Vasquez's Mind-Set Is Becoming an NBA No-Brainer

AKRON, Ohio -- Rarely does Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez speak with uncertainty, which makes his current predicament a bit incongruous. He sat on metal bleachers Tuesday afternoon, ankles wrapped with ice bags, following a workout at a camp for some of the top college players in the country and spoke about how he was there to prove that he could learn, that he could improve his ability.

He was there because people -- specifically those who make personnel decisions in the organization for which the 6-foot-5 point guard wants to work one day -- were unsure whether he was ready. Vasquez, per usual, was and is sure his game eventually will take him to the NBA. But first, a few adjustments must be made.

Vasquez was one of 20 college players who participated this week in the LeBron James Skills Academy at James A. Rhodes Arena on the University of Akron campus. He matched up against the likes of Xavier's Jordan Crawford and Georgia Tech's Iman Shumpert with the experiences he gained over the past two months still fresh in his mind.

Before he pulled his name out of the NBA draft on June 15 -- the final day underclassmen could withdraw -- Vasquez went through a dizzying tour of workouts that left his legs extremely tired, his skills acutely examined and his perspective refreshingly renewed.

He will return to Maryland for his senior season with hopes of leading the Terrapins back to the NCAA tournament, but also with hopes of sharpening his marksmanship and developing greater quickness and agility -- erasing any doubt that he belongs in the NBA.

"Definitely, I'm happy," Vasquez said. "I did the whole process just to try to learn. I didn't do it because I wanted to try to go above Coach [Gary] Williams or saying I'm the best player in Maryland history, I should go, I should make it to the NBA, because as a player and a person I know the NBA is a lot bigger than me and the NCAA and Maryland.

"I was just trying to do the process with the mentality that I was going to get better and get good competition every day in those workouts against a lot of big-time guys. It was good exposure for me."

In the final week before he made his decision, Vasquez attended four workouts in five days, and he said the feedback was mostly positive. Vasquez said NBA officials saw him as "a big point guard," which he said they viewed as an asset. But those officials also saw a player who needed to work on staying in front of smaller, quicker guards on defense.

He had matched up well against Eric Maynor, Jrue Holliday and Darren Collison -- all guards who were drafted in the first round -- in previous NBA workouts, and yet his decision lingered into that final weekend because no team could give him the assurance he desired.

"It was hard, you know, because I had a couple teams really wanting me, but they weren't sure," Vasquez said. "I think it's not bad for me to go back one more year and get my degree and get a shot to go first round. As of right now, nothing is guaranteed, so I have to work my butt off and get better if I want to be in that first-round range. I know I'm capable, so I'm just going to keep working."

That process began nearly as soon as his decision to return to Maryland was finalized. He began lifting weights with his teammates at Comcast Center and resting his ankles in preparation for an upcoming stint with the Venezuelan national team. He arrived here Sunday ready to perform in front of some of the same pro scouts who had evaluated him in recent months. They weren't intimidating anymore, Vasquez said.

Teaming up with Oklahoma guard Willie Warren, Siena swingman Edwin Ubiles, Virginia Tech forward Jeff Allen and Virginia Commonwealth forward Larry Sanders, Vasquez helped his team compete against three other squads in numerous scrimmages over four days.