Torrance blames heart issue for going undrafted

Here is the story on Torrance’s draft issues and his signing with the Miami Heat’s summer league team:

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Former Alabama point guard Mikhail Torrance believes a heart condition kept him from being selected in the NBA draft.

Torrance told The Birmingham News and Mobile Press-Register on Monday that he has signed a free agent deal with the Miami Heat and will play for the franchise’s Summer League team.

Torrance says the heart condition was “the only reason” he wasn’t drafted last week. Torrance says he was diagnosed before last season with athletic heart syndrome, a condition where the heart is slightly bigger than normal due to prolonged exercise.

Torrance says Alabama team doctors cleared him to play and told him the condition was common.

He led the Crimson Tide in scoring and assists, averaging 15.6 points a game.

Mikhail Torrance goes undrafted

Once again, view mock drafts with caution.

Contrary to the eight I referenced yesterday, Mikhail Torrance was not among the 60 players selected in Thursday night’s NBA draft. Two of these experts actually said he’d be the 18th overall selection.

Ouch.

Time for a vacation, or maybe a new career path if picks are that far off.

It had to be a disappointing night for Torrance, who I have to say was an impressive kid in the year I covered him at Alabama. Always polite, he’s one that you hope see succeed in life.

Now he’ll have to fight extra hard for a roster spot in the summer leagues. Stay tuned for that.

Mikhail Torrance in the mock drafts (links)

Here is the table that should run with my story in Thursday’s papers. Only this one includes links to the full mock draft websites. We still haven’t discovered how to do that in print, but stay tuned.

Yannis Koutroupis, hoopsworld.com: 18th (Miami Heat)
Steve Kyler, hoopsworld.com: 18th (Heat)
Alex Raskin, hoopsworld.com: 27th (Nets)
Sports Illustrated: 27th pick (New Jersey Nets)
Sam Smith, NBA.com: 28th (Memphis Grizzlies)
NBAfanhouse.com: 29th (Orlando Magic)
Yahoo Sports: 45th (Minnesota Timberwolves)
NBAdraft.net: 46th (Phoenix Suns)
Draftexpress.com: 47th (Milwaukee Bucks)

Torrance working his way up mock drafts

Mikhail Torrance wasn’t exactly known as a lottery pick when his finished his senior year at Alabama in March.

Give a few months, and the hype is growing behind the ex-Crimson Tide guard.

Now, there’s a chance Torrance could land late in the first round in Thursday night’s NBA draft.

Dan Barto, the director of pro basketball training at IMG Academy, worked with Torrance and helped shape his improved stock. Barto said his pupil could go as early as the 18th pick to the Miami Heat.

Read more tomorrow about Barto’ impressions of the soon-to-be-pro and what he expects Torrance will do once he lands on an NBA roster.

NBA Draft Thursday, does Gee have a shot?

This is just a teaser to read Thursday’s paper where I will explore the possibility of Alabama’s Alonzo Gee being drafted in the NBA Draft on Thursday evening.

The job of predicting draft outcomes is impossible, so I won’t even try. But I did speak with an instructor whose been working with Gee since the college season ended and he has good things to say about his expanded skill set.

But that’s all I will tell you for now. Pick up a copy for Thursday’s Decatur Daily to read more and watch the draft starting at 6 p.m. CST Thursday on ESPN.

And while I have your attention, I’d encourage you to use one of the newer features of this new blog. On the left-hand side of the page, you will find a poll that will be changed each week. Vote.