By Sean Walker and Patrick Perkins
If it were up to BYU men's basketball coach Dave Rose, former Cougar center/forward Trent Plaisted would be spending the 2009 NBA season in a Rockets uniform, visiting family on the weekend while living in the Houston area. That's the NBA team that currently holds the 25th pick in today's NBA Draft.
The San Antonio native probably wouldn't mind, either.
"You only need one person to like you, and one team to draft you," Rose said after spending a few days with Plaisted at a pre-draft camp in Orlando. "I've spent a lot of time talking to his agent, as well, and I think they're projecting him to go somewhere between No. 25 and No. 40 [with a couple of weeks to go]. He may even be able to pick up one of those late spots in the first round."
Houston was one of the teams that gave Plaisted a chance to show off his prowess on the hardwood. So were the Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Hornets, Sacrament Kings and No.1-pick owners Chicago Bulls. Former BYU Cougar Danny Ainge and the NBA champion Boston Celtics also gave the Cougar forward/center a look-over, Rose said.
Plaisted could easily find a basketball-playing home in his native state, after spending time with the Dallas Mavericks and hometown San Antonio Spurs, as well.
"He's got a lot of interest," Rose said. "He's really taken advantage of this opportunity that has presented itself to him."
After spending time with Plaisted in Orlando, Rose thinks BYU could provide one of this year's better big men for the draft.
"There were 10-15 players who didn't get to play in the games, so I didn't get to watch him play against the Lopez twins [or similar big men], but against other high-quality players he [Plaisted] did well," Rose said.
"I think he improved his stock against a lot of players. There may be some room for improvement on his part, but Trent has a pretty good idea of where he stands in this draft process, and I think a second-round pick is something realistic for him to shoot for."
Rose said no matter where the former Cougar ends up, the entire BYU coaching staff will support him. Even when Plaisted announced a few weeks ago he would not return for his final season to defend BYU's Mountain West Conference crown, members of the coaching staff were prepared for the news.
"We spent a lot of time talking about it, just the two of us," Rose said. "One thing that was always in the forefront of that conversation is that he [Plaisted] has finished his graduation requirements. He's on the verge of getting his degree."
The BYU head coach of three years believes Plaisted's agent is necessary to ensure the forward's place in the draft this evening.
"Right now, he has a much better chance of maximizing his spot by using an agent to prepare him than otherwise," Rose said. "His decision was that hiring an agent will help his chances. Now that he has a degree, he feels he is ready to pursue a professional career.
"Right now is a really important time for him."
As for the BYU coaching staff, the focus remains on trying to rebuild a team tough enough to defend its title without the "center" piece of their offense. However, Rose said any one of a number of players could fill in the gap left by Plaisted's giant shoes.
"Chris Miles, Gavin McGregor and James Anderson are all in a position where they are working hard to see who will play the majority of the minutes [in Plaisted's stead]," Rose said.
Copyright Brigham Young University 26 Jun 2008
