I sat next to NBA scouts on press row from '89 to '91. I made it a point to try to do so every game. The scouts were usually former players and they often carried a notebook with a team logo on it. A batch of scouts came through in 1989 and we had a slew of NBA prospects on our team. Plus we were playing teams like Missouri, Kansas and Iowa that also had prospects.
In 1989 they, of course, were evaluating Mookie and Stacey but they were also looking at Skeeter, Kermit Holmes, Tyrone Jones.
I remember one saying we were listing our guys too tall. He was referring to Tony Martin, who they were scouting. Also Skeeter Henry was drawing attention. In 1990 many were there to see Brent Price, Jackie Jones, Damon Patterson, Skeeter and Kermit Holmes. Gosh, that was a loaded team. Terrence Mullins, who if he were on today's team would be close to our leading scorer. Smokey, Jeff Webster, William Davis, Terry Evans. Roland Ware riding the bench.
Roland Ware had the prettiest jump ever. He didn't need a dribble or anything. He'd just rise up and his shoes would be at eye level where we were sitting. In warm up he'd bury a corner shot again and again and again. The guy was 6'6 220 and the scout would ask me why isn't this guy playing? We had a guy the exact size of Michael Jordan with the softest jump shot ever and our team was so deep, he was like option number 12.
In 1991 Kermit Holmes was being evaluated along with Webster, Terry Evans and Price (who was thought to be a sure thing.) plus Brian Sallier was drawing some attention. It wasn't a great year compared to Tubbs' previous four seasons and it the year I lost my press pass in the middle of the season when Oklahoma News went bust.
I tried to keep using the pass but they finally caught on.
