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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, June 6, 2006

Sensley senses he still has NBA shot

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Many of the top prospects for the upcoming NBA Draft are in Orlando, Fla., today for the start of the NBA Pre-Draft Camp.

Julian Sensley is not there. Instead, he's right where he wants to be — here in Hawai'i.

"I don't look at it as a bad thing that I'm not in Orlando," Sensley said. "A lot of (prospects) are not going. I could have gone there and had a bad camp, you never know."

The former University of Hawai'i standout has already completed private workouts for three NBA teams, and he expects to attend at least four more workouts before the June 28 draft.

Sensley, a 6-foot-9 forward, was originally on the alternate list of players for the Pre-Draft Camp. Scouts and coaches from all 30 NBA teams attend the camp, which runs today through Saturday.

"I think the scouts know about Julian's skills and know he has the tools to play and be successful in the NBA," said his agent, Jerome Stanley. "Him not going to Orlando is not necessarily going to hurt his chances."

Sensley has been working out with a private trainer in Los Angeles since April.

"I'm feeling real good, I'm in shape, and I'm hungry for an opportunity," he said.

Sensley recently completed workouts for the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers.

He said the Lakers and Blazers have invited him for a second look, and the New York Knicks and Charlotte Bobcats have also requested him for workouts.

Sensley's name is not appearing on any mock drafts, so he will likely have to sign with an NBA team as a free agent.

"I'd say about 20 percent of the players in the NBA now took a different path to getting there other than the draft," Stanley said. "I'm confident that Julian can take one of those paths."

Sensley said he will visit with his family in Kailua this week and then return to his training schedule in Los Angeles next week.

Sensley averaged 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as a senior for the Rainbow Warriors last season. He was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection, and is the only player in UH history to rank among the top 10 for points, rebounds and assists.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.