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Out of nowhere Unknown players look to make names for themselves
Updated: Sunday October 21, 2001 6:28 PM
Every year they emerge in training camp, no-names or lesser-knowns who come out of nowhere to make a splash. Last year it was Stephen Jackson of the Nets. A former second-round pick who had bounced around the CBA and been waived by the Grizzlies, he wound up starting half the season for New Jersey before bolting this past summer to sign a free-agent deal with the Spurs. It's still a bit early to determine who -- if anybody -- will be this year's training camp surprise. After a week of exhibition games, however, some unfamiliar faces are beginning to emerge. Here are five players -- none of them members of the '01 draft class -- you might not know about who are worth keeping an eye on. In honor of last year's big training camp surprise, let's call them The Jackson Five: Oscar Torres, RocketsFrom Venezuela, a land more known for producing coffee and shortstops, comes this 6-foot-6, 210-pound shooting guard. One of the top players in the Venezuelan pro league, Torres, 24, had 18 points, seven rebounds and three steals in an exhibition against the Pistons last week. With size, strength and good shooting range, he has drawn comparisons to Clyde Drexler. Talent-wise, Torres is more along the lines of countryman Carl Herrera. Even so, he will likely make the team and could be in the rotation as a backup to Cuttino Mobley.
Zeljko Rebraca, PistonsUnlike so many other 7-foot European stiffs, Rebraca actually can play a little. A former second-round pick of the Sonics in the '94 draft, he has spent the past seven years in Europe making big money and honing his skills. Rebraca, a 29-year-old Yugoslavian, still needs to work on his defense, but he's big (250 pounds), runs the floor well, can hit the jump hook and can score some in the post. He had 17 points against the Nets the other night, and has become a fan favorite with his platinum-dyed hair that makes him look like an outsized Eminem. Menk Batere, NuggetsLike the fourth Stooge (after Moe, Curly and Larry) or the third tenor (after Pavarotti and Domingo), the 6-11 Batere is the "other" guy from China's famed Great Walking Wall. Though not as good or as well-known as countrymen Yao Ming and Wang ZhiZhi, the 26-year-old Batere is a legitimate prospect. He's got size and a soft touch, but he still needs to learn the nuances. He only plays sparingly in the preseason, so catch him while you can. He also will miss at least the first month of the NBA season because of a prior commitment to his national team in China. Tang Hamilton, HeatThis 6-8 small forward from Mississippi State, signed as a free agent, has about as much chance as making the Heat roster as Neil Armstrong. But he can jump to the moon and he's got a great nickname. (According to Hamilton, his mother was a big fan of the space drink). He put on a solid all-around display in Thursday's exhibition against the Grizzlies, scoring, passing, rebounding and even drawing a charge from Lorenzen Wright. That's the kind of hustle that sends Pat Riley into orbit. Charlie Bell, SunsOK, so he isn't exactly a no-name, having starred at Michigan State. However, it's fair to say this 6-3 guard, who went undrafted, has been a pleasant surprise in Phoenix. A solid defender with a nose for the ball, he made the all-tournament team at last summer's Rocky Mountain Revue and has continued to impress thus far during training camp. He is expected to make the Suns roster as a backup point guard to Stephon Marbury. Marty Burns covers pro basketball for CNNSI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.
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