PUR – Clemente looks to reach NBA one way or another

SAN JUAN (NBA) - Denis Clemente is hoping to become the latest Puerto Rican guard to make it in the NBA.

A 6ft 1in playmaker expected to don his national team jersey in the years ahead, the 24-year-old Clemente is coming off an impressive career at Kansas State.

Now his attention is on Thursday’s draft.

"The dream of any player is to go to the NBA and be called in the draft,” Clemente said.

“Being able to hear your name and know that you are among the best players in the world ... that's a lot to say.”

Clemente knows there have been plenty of instances over the years in which players were expected to be selected early in the draft but instead went late.

Sometimes, players’ hopes have been dashed by not having their names called at all.

Such was the case for Carlos Arroyo and Jose Barea – Puerto Rico guards that are preparing for the Centrobasket Championship.

Not being drafted did not prevent them from reaching the NBA. They are established players in the league with Arroyo in Miami and Barea in Dallas.

In other cases, Puerto Rican players like center John Peter Ramos have been selected but failed to cut in the league and end up playing overseas.

"I know my agent has high expectations,” Clemente said, “but I am not listening.

“I don’t want to think about what will happen. I’ll know the day of the draw.”

That day has arrived.

FIBA