It was almost exactly a year ago that Greivis Vasquez worked out for the Washington Wizards as he contemplated leaving Maryland a year early and jumping to the NBA. "I'm a junior, and I don't have any pressure. I'm just trying to learn," Vasquez said at that time.
A year later Vasquez is a graduated senior, and he will work out for the Wizards again on Monday. And now he has some pressure. He's been waiting years to try to fulfill his NBA dream, and this is his shot.
Vasquez says it helps him to have been to these sorts of workouts before. "It's the same exact process,. I know what to expect," he says.
Guess who has been invited to work out at the same time? Michigan State's Raymar Morgan.
Morgan was on the floor (Vasquez was guarding him) when Michigan State's Korie Lucious broke Maryland's heart by nailing a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to knock the Terps out of the NCAA tournament in March.
Just what Vasquez needs, right? A reminder of the most painful loss in his Maryland career. While Morgan is at it, why doesn't he just give Vasquez "a nice paper cut and pour lemon juice on it?" (OK, trivia buffs, what movie is that line from??).
Actually, Vasquez said the memory of that defeat provides him motivation to try to succeed at the next level.
The Wizards, by the way, have the 30th and 35th picks in the draft (in addition to owning the No. 1 selection).
