April 17, 2002
By Marc Nesseler, sports editor
Professional sports agent George Bass called Tuesday ``Pete Mickeal Day at my office.''
``It was like all of a sudden,'' Bass said of interest from the NBA for his client, the leading all-timer scorer in Rock Island High School basketball history. The reason was that on Tuesday, Mickeal was named the Most Valuable Player of the American Basketball Association as a member of the Kansas City team.
On the heels of the MVP announcement, Bass said four different NBA teams called him about Mickeal. ``And two of those were trying for commitments to summer leagues.'' In normal NBA progression, free-agent players first go to a mini-camp and then a summer league before signing a contract. Summer camps start July 6.
Oddly, Mickeal found out about the MVP honor from an NBA scout who was discussing a mini-camp assignment.
``I just found out about it while talking to Chico Barge, the head scout for Portland,'' Mickeal said. ``I'm going to go to the Blazers' mini-camp on May 28, and will work out until the 31st.''
Though Bass would not disclose the other teams interested in Mickeal, sources say the Houston Rockets are near the top of the list, with the Miami Heat and Washington Wizards also possibly looking to check him out.
Bass said Mickeal's versatility and character, as well as the ability to ink him to a minimum-salary contract, are the lures. ``They see him as a `3' (shooting forward), but he can guard the `2' (power forward) and can play the `4' (shooting guard). Plus, he's a tough-nosed kid. I've heard nothing but good comments all day.''
With Kansas City, Mickeal averaged 24 points and seven rebounds per game. He signed with KC on Jan. 16.
``In my mind, I was more worried about winning'' the ABA title, Mickeal said. Kansas City did that, with Mickeal scoring 27 points in the title game to garner the tournament MVP award as well. ``Still, I knew I was one of the frontrunners'' for the top league honor.
Mickeal did so coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon while playing for Tampa Bay in the ABA in February 2001.
Helping him through that, Mickeal said, was ``the same support in Rock Island that I've had since high school.
``I had all of Grant School (in Rock Island) send me get-well cards. That was one of the things that kept me going.''
Copyright 2002, Moline Dispatch Publishing Co.
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