June 29 – Sixty names were called Wednesday night at the NBA draft – 11 of them from a Big East school – but no Gerry McNamara.

It doesn’t mean there is no interest from the NBA in McNamara’s services. In fact, the courting process starts all over again for McNamara and his agent, Bill Neff.

The popular former Syracuse guard will get another chance to show off his skills with the reward being an undrafted rookie free agent contract and the shot at making an NBA roster.

‘No player understands the process,’ Neff said. ‘But it’s a business. This year teams took a ton of international players late so they can stash them overseas. In essence it was only a 45-player draft.’

The lone drama on the night out of the McNamara camp came early in the second round.

The Orlando Magic contacted Neff to tell him they were considering taking McNamara with the 41st pick overall. Neff called McNamara to let him know, but it ended up being their only conversation. The Magic went with Illinois forward James Augustine instead of McNamara.

‘We’ll talk to people (Thursday morning) and see,’ Neff said. ‘Gerry has to go through the back door now.’

Neff said he expected 8-10 calls from NBA teams following the draft interested in seeing McNamara workout at the NBA summer camps, which begin as early as July 5, to evaluate a potential contract offer. He believes Orlando will show similar interest as it did during the draft.

However, before McNamara and Neff shop around for an entry contract, they have plenty to take care of.

The initial task at hand for McNamara is the healing of his persistent groin injury. Recently, a doctor told McNamara he should be cleared for action before play in the NBA’s summer leagues begin, a crucial step toward signing with a team.

‘Teams have not been very concerned about the injury,’ Neff said. ‘The bigger questions with Gerry are, ‘Is he a point guard?’ and ‘How is his defense?’

‘The older the scout, the more likely they are to like him. He’s old school.’

Neff’s job is to rank the teams interested in McNamara in order to find what he calls, ‘the best fit.’

McNamara was projected at best to be a late second round pick after reaggravating the groin injury at the NBA’s predraft camp in Orlando. Despite not being selected, McNamara effectively has the same status as a second-round pick, only with less security.

Although guaranteed a contract, a second-round selection is no lock to see immediate NBA action. In reality, it may be the exact opposite.

Fourteen out of the 30 second-round picks in 2005 spent the season in the NBDL, the NBA’s equivalent of the minor leagues. The only second-rounders to make noise at the highest level in 2005 were Arizona’s Salime Stoudamire, picked 31st by Atlanta, and former Providence forward Ryan Gomes, who was picked by the Boston Celtics at No. 50 overall.

The 11 players selected were a Big East record – seven were taken in the first round.

Villanova’s Randy Foye was the first, going eventually, after two trades, to Minnesota with the seventh pick. Connecticut’s Rudy Gay, who started the 2005-06 season as a possible No. 1 overall pick, was selected eighth by Houston.

The others in the first round were UConn’s Hilton Armstrong (New Orleans – 12), Rutgers’ Quincy Douby (Sacramento – 19), UConn’s Marcus Williams (New Jersey – 22), UConn’s Josh Bonne (New Jersey – 23) and Villanova’s Kyle Lowry (Memphis – 24).

McNamara was not the only Big East star who went undrafted Wednesday. Kevin Pittsnogle and Mike Gansey, both from West Virginia, were expected to be picked, but were not.

Toronto selected Andrea Bargnani first overall in what many called the worst draft in years in terms of star power.

As for McNamara, Neff knows it doesn’t matter how his client gets to the NBA, but he understands not being drafted can be demoralizing.

‘I just have to stay on course and make sure he isn’t discouraged by the process. If he’s healthy, he’ll be in the NBA.’

Published on August 7, 2006 at 12:00 pm