McMullen Displays Wares at NBA Rookie Camp

After being passed over in last month’s draft, Mitch McMullen is now passing before NBA teams.

The former Hart High and College of the Canyons standout completed the Seattle SuperSonics’ five-day rookie camp Friday and gave himself a positive review.

“I’m learning the ropes,” McMullen said from Seattle. “My legs are trying to get used to the hard work. I’m rebounding well and playing defense well and taking my shot when it’s open.”

Seattle management has not made a decision on the 6-foot-10 center’s future in the organization. The SuperSonics are expected to decide this week whether they will field a team in the Southern California Summer Pro Basketball League, which opens at Loyola Marymount on Friday, or merely have three of the 15 players from their rookie camp join another team in the league.

Regardless of which direction the SuperSonics take, McMullen will participate in the Denver Nuggets’ camp beginning Friday.

Although there are few NBA-caliber players among the prospective SuperSonics, McMullen has noticed differences between the college and pro games.

“This is a much faster game than college,” McMullen said. “I have to prepare myself mentally to run the floor a little bit better. I also have to use my lower body to work hard, box out and get rebounds.”

Although McMullen was not among the 54 players drafted, he was not unwanted on draft day. After the draft, he received a call from Houston Rockets President-General Manager Ray Patterson. However, McMullen said that the Rockets’ interest in him ended Tuesday when they signed unrestricted free-agent forward Larry Smith to a three-year contract worth $2.5 million.

McMullen is far from being bitter about not being drafted.

“I’m very happy about it,” McMullen said. “In a way, it was better that I wasn’t drafted, because I can pick and choose where I go.”

McMullen’s arduous path to the pros in some ways resembles the route he took to a National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Division I school. McMullen backed out of a scholarship offer from Brigham Young after high school, instead beginning his collegiate career at Point Loma Nazarene, a small Christian college in San Diego. After averaging 10.5 points and six rebounds a game in the 1985-86 season, he transfered to Canyons where he won JC Athletic Bureau first team All-American honors in 1987.

McMullen became the first player signed by San Diego State after Jim Brandenburg became head coach in March, 1987. In his initial season with the Aztecs, McMullen averaged 13 points and 6.1 rebounds a game.

Continuing to improve at the start of last season, McMullen was tabbed by some NBA scouts as a potential first-round draft choice. However, a bruised Achilles’ tendon suffered in January limited his effectiveness. McMullen still finished as the Aztecs’ leading scorer (14.6) and rebounder (7.9).

“I’m just going to keep working hard and do the best I can,” McMullen said. “I’m not thinking about playing in Europe or the CBA. My sole focus is the NBA.”