Andre Spight called his Nuggets pre-draft workout last week a “dream come true” — even though the former Northern Colorado point guard left yearning for more after his session included only a limited amount of three-on-three scrimmage.
“I don’t think they got to see everything I can do,” Spight said, “but they should know.”
Therein lies the challenge for the state’s most electrifying prospect entering Thursday’s NBA draft. Numbers don’t lie. But do they carry as much weight in the Big Sky?
Spight, a South Plains College and Arizona State transfer, arrived in Greeley as a virtual unknown, and following one senior season, he left as a UNC legend. Spight (6-foot-3, 170) broke the school and conference record for single-season scoring (855 points), dropping 40-plus points on three occasions, en route to MVP honors for the Bears’ CollegeInsider.com Tournament championship run.
“He’s a guy that puts a lot of pressure on a defense,” UNC coach Jeff Linder told The Denver Post in March, “because he has an ability to make tough shots.”
Idaho forward Brayon Blake, a Big Sky cohort who attended the same Nuggets’ workout, added: “He’s a good player, a great point guard and knows how to lead a team.”
However, Denver was the only team to extend Spight a pre-draft workout invite outside his pro-day event in Las Vegas — evidence that rising on the NBA radar will take more effort than his big-name counterparts with lesser college production.
“It’s kind of hard coming out of the Big Sky because people don’t really see us and you don’t get invited to those big camps that other guys do coming from other schools — even though they average like 10 or 13 points a game,” Spight said. “I’m over here putting up 23, but it’s kind of hard getting noticed coming out of UNC.”
That hasn’t hampered Spight’s drive to play at the highest level, though, in pursuing a dream which began as a kid in Burbank, Calif., idolizing the talents of Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. And, like those NBA stars, Spight developed into a ball-dominant guard with a knack for filling the bucket. Yet he understands his game must evolve to find the right fit on a pro roster.
“I’m mainly known as a guy who shoots off the dribble just because of the situations I’ve been in and what my team needs to do,” Spight said. “I also want to show scouts and I can shoot off the catch, too. I feel like whatever the team needs, I can bring that to the table.”
Spight will watch the draft from his adopted home of Colorado where he continues to train for the next level. With a slim chance his name is called through two rounds, he’ll then await the opportunity to sign with a summer league team. Spight is open to playing overseas should that call never come.
Just add that speculation to the already massive chip on Spight’s shoulder. He isn’t done showcasing why he belongs.
“I just came out to prove a point this year,” Spight said.
