Tryout camp gives hopefuls shot at playing for Silver Bandits

Victoria Sun

Friday, Aug. 4, 2000 | 10:22 a.m.

A group of dreamers, optimists and realists has been gathering this week at the Doolittle Community Center for what can be termed a job interview in the form of drills and five-on-five full-court basketball games.

The process that started Monday and concludes today will determine who will be a step closer to becoming a player for the Las Vegas Silver Bandits of the International Basketball League this fall.

Of the estimated 18 men who dished out the $175 each to participate in the tryout camp, between three and six will be invited to attend Silver Bandits preseason training camp in October.

"I've started to lose more sleep every night," Las Vegan Bret Walter said Thursday. "I'm excited about this. I came here not expecting anything, but I guess I've got my hopes up just like everybody else. I'm going for it."

That seemed to be the prevalent attitude at the tryouts.

There were so many unnecessary behind-the-back passes and attempts at flashy plays, even flamboyant Sacramento Kings point guard Jason Williams might have blushed.

To be fair, the showmanship was all done with one goal in mind -- to impress and be noticed.

But, said Silver Bandits athletic trainer Patrick Ballinger, showboating isn't what will earn the players consideration.

"We are looking for a multi-dimensional player, one who can pass, score, shoot and rebound," said Ballinger, who ran the day sessions of the camp. "In our league, a two (shooting guard), three (small forward) and four (power forward) are interchangeable.

"If we can get someone who is a quick learner or is an interchangeable piece, that's what we're hoping to find."

Walter, a 6-foot guard who drained at least three 3-pointers and four jumpers, is getting considerable notice for his ability to sink shots consistently.

Though he played four years at Concordia University in Seward, Neb., wrapping up his career in 1996, Walter knew that he had no realistic shot at the NBA. In his senior year he averaged about 16 points a game and made more than 40 percent of his 3-point attempts.

After college, Walter moved with his wife to Las Vegas and became the boys varsity coach at Faith Lutheran. When he heard about the Silver Bandits tryouts, he couldn't resist.

"I just wanted to come down here and see if I could play with these guys and what would happen," Walter said. "I really didn't know what to expect.

"I liked the way things have went."

Walter, guard Tes Whitlock and big men Carl Ray Harris and Tony Graves appear to have the best chance of making it to training camp. The final decision will be made after evaluations by first-year head coach Lionel Hollins, assistant and director of player personnel Barry Hecker, Ballinger and other members of the Silver Bandits staff are completed.

The IBL expansion draft, originally scheduled for July 27, and the regular draft, originally scheduled for Aug. 10, have been pushed back to a later date that has not been determined.

Marc McDowell, a 6-foot-7 forward, arrived in Las Vegas for the tryout camp Wednesday afternoon at the urging of his brother-in-law, Don Yarder. Yarder recently acquired part-ownership of the Silver Bandits.

McDowell, of Gilbert, Ariz., played three seasons at Pepperdine, averaging 9.3 points and 3.4 rebounds a game.

He spent last season playing in France, but hopes to play in Las Vegas or somewhere else in the United States to be closer to his wife, Kara, and their child.

"I kind of look at myself as a blue-collar player," he said. "I rebound, I love to defend, I love physical basketball.

"There's a lot of good players out here. A lot of people (are) trying to further their careers in basketball so they're playing hard."

Then there is 1990 Clark High School graduate Ken Bosket.

Bosket played four years at Northern Arizona University before graduating in 1994 with a degree in finance.

After college he played in Ireland, in the International Basketball Association and in Australia before taking last year off.

"I would like to make the team and get better as a basketball player," Bosket said. "I used to be happy playing (in) Australia, but now I thought, why not give it a shot here.

"It's not a life-or-death situation because even if I wasn't financially taken care of, I could get a job. I just love to play. Everyone here loves to play."