Clyburn heads to Vegas to train for possible pro career
ISU redshirt senior Will Clyburn brings the ball inside the arc against Ohio State in the third-round game of the NCAA tournament on March 24, 2013, at the University of Dayton Arena. Clyburn ended his Cyclone career with 17 points in the 75-78 loss.
April 23, 2013
After traveling the country and participating in two different All-Star events once the season was over, Will Clyburn now heads to greener pastures — more specifically, he’s headed to Las Vegas.
Clyburn will train at the Impact Basketball Academy, a place chosen by himself and his agent, Michael Lindeman of Excel Sports Management.
The Impact Academy is one of the most respected places in all of basketball, boasting alumni in the NBA as prominent as Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard to former Cyclones Jamaal Tinsley and Craig Brackins.
“I’d say I’m a pretty confident person, but I never thought I would be put in a situation where I would actually have chance to play at the next level,” Clyburn said.
On April 5, 2013, Clyburn played his last game for ISU men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg, suiting up for the west side of the Reese’s All-Star game. Clyburn earned MVP honors for the west side, scoring 17 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
Then from April 10-13, Clyburn participated in the Portsmouth Invitational, a tournament which invites the top 64 seniors in college basketball. Diante Garrett competed in the event after his senior year as well. Clyburn finished day one, scoring 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting and tallied three steals.
While at both events, he talked to general managers of NBA franchises who didn’t necessarily tip their hand, just did preliminary background checks and small talk.
“Obviously they probably did like my game for me to even be meeting with them,” Clyburn said. “It was a lot of ‘get to know me’ type of stuff.”
Now Clyburn heads to Las Vegas to train until a potential appearance at the NBA Combine May 15-19 in Chicago.
After that, he could possibly work out for NBA teams at their respective facilities across the country. It’s noteworthy that former ISU basketball player Scott Christopherson was an alternate at the same Minnesota Timberwolves workout that Royce White attended in front of multiple general managers.
“Now it’s just working out trying to get ready for other workouts and putting myself in a better situation,” Clyburn said.
