Leonard Hopkins Update

UNTLifer · June 28, 2005

Men's Basketball: UNT's Hopkins headed to Las Vegas for summer league

08:14 AM CDT on Tuesday, June 28, 2005

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

Leonard Hopkins will take the next step toward what he hopes will be a career in professional basketball this month — even though he is all but assured of being passed over in the NBA Draft today.

DRC file photo

Former North Texas guard Leonard Hopkins is hoping to find a home in professional basketball, either in the United States or overseas.

The former North Texas standout is working with a personal trainer in preparation for the Global Hoops Summit, a league in Las Vegas that features college players who are not selected in the draft, NBA free agents and foreign players looking to catch on with teams in the United States.

“I have not had many NBA teams contact me about tryouts,” Hopkins said. “The Las Vegas league will be my chance to showcase my skills and make some noise.”

Representatives of the NBA, CBA and foreign teams are all expected to scout the event, which runs from July 16-21.

Hopkins secured his place in the camp with a solid career at UNT that saw him finish as the school’s eighth all-time leading scorer with 1,340 points. The 6-3 shooting guard was named second-team All-Sun Belt Conference in both his junior and senior seasons.

Hopkins battled though a series of injuries before his final two seasons at UNT, which left open the possibility of the NCAA granting him an additional year of eligibility. The school dropped an appeal for an extra season after Hopkins decided he needed to move on.

Hopkins’ brother, Bryan, a starting guard at SMU, also considered declaring for the NBA Draft before deciding to play an additional college season.

Despite receiving little interest from NBA teams, Hopkins is still happy with his decision to give up his appeal for an additional year of eligibility at UNT.

“I still feel good about it,” Hopkins said. “I never regret any decisions I make.”

UNT coach Johnny Jones is confident Hopkins has the skills to play professionally.

“When Leonard puts his mind to something, he is successful,” Jones said earlier this year. “There is definitely a spot out there for him in pro ball.”

That place could be in the CBA or ABA, a pair of lower-level professional basketball leagues where several former UNT players have landed roster spots. Chris Davis was the leading scorer for the Texas Tycoons in the ABA last season, while Shawnson Johnson was among the league’s leaders in rebounds.

Hopkins could join Davis and Johnson in the ABA or travel overseas to play for a foreign team.

The NBA Draft probably won’t have an impact on where Hopkins ends up, but he plans on watching as several other college and high school players are selected. Some of those players will be guaranteed millions in their first contracts.

That likely won’t be the case for Hopkins, who will follow a different path to a life in professional basketball.

“It would be a blessing if my name is called,” Hopkins said. “But I know that no matter what, it will work out in the end.”