Darnell ‘excited’ by pre-draft travels

By Gary Bedore     Jun 24, 2008

Darnell Jackson has traveled to Orlando, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Houston, Oakland, Seattle, Cleveland twice and Charlotte this past month while pursuing his NBA dream.

“I’m not tired. I’m excited. It’s been a great experience, getting to stay in the nicest hotels, flying everywhere. You’re constantly flying, basically for job interviews,” Jackson, a former Kansas University forward, said Monday afternoon.

He had just completed an individual workout with the Cleveland Cavaliers and was preparing to fly to North Carolina for today’s final pre-NBA Draft workout with the Charlotte Bobcats.

After that, the 6-foot-8, 250-pounder was to return to his native Midwest City, Okla., to kick back and relax in advance of Thursday night’s draft, in which he may be selected in Round Two.

“I will have a barbecue with my family, watch (the draft) with my mom and girlfriend,” Jackson said. “The perfect scenario would be to hear my name called. A lot of players prefer to be drafted so they know where they are going to be.

“It’s like putting your name in a jar. You don’t know who is going to pull it out, Oakland, Seattle, Cleveland, whoever. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. It’s been a great journey. Really it doesn’t matter if I’m a free agent or get drafted, as long as I’m with a team.”

Chad Ford of ESPN.com says Jackson will go 29th in the second round to Detroit. Draftexpress.com says San Antonio will nab him at No. 27 of Round Two.

“I’ll definitely be prepared to go anywhere, a (NBA) summer camp, cross-seas. Right now, it’s all predictions. Nobody knows but the coaches and general managers. I plan on having a great and successful life no matter what happens,” Jackson said.

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