Darryl (Truck) Bryant is looking for an NBA stop. The former West Virginia guard had a pre-draft workout with the Sacramento Kings, but didn’t hear his named called at the Prudential Center last week, leaving his immediate future uncertain.
“Right now I’m just trying to get a summer league team,” said Bryant, a St. Raymond product, after playing with the Rosedale Trailblazers at Hoops in the Sun on Sunday.
Part of the problem, Bryant said, was he switched agents midway through the process. Bryant said he took his time picking the second time, wanting to make sure he got it right. He is being represented by Jared Hodges, who is affiliated with Alston Walton. Bryant is staying in shape by playing on the city’s streetball circuit, at Dyckman and HITS.
“It definitely did [set me back],” he said of the uneasy agent situation. “I had to find the right guy.”
Bryant tried to raise his stock by playing in the Portsmouth Invitational, a showcase for the top college seniors in front of NBA scouts. Bryant’s K&D Rounds Landscaping team lost all three games. He averaged close to eight points and four assists in 22 minutes of play. He improved as the week went on, scoring 11 points in his final contest. Bryant didn’t think it was the best environment for him to showcase his talents.
“It was really a lot of selfishness,” Bryant said. “A lot of guys were there for themselves trying to impress an NBA team. It was a good experience, though.”
The Brooklyn native was a key cog to West Virginia’s success in a loaded Big East during his four seasons with the school. His senior year he averaged 16.9 points, 2.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds as the Mountaineers went 19-14 and 9-9 in conference play. As a sophomore, West Virginia went 31-7 and reached the Final Four.
“It was a great experience,” Bryant said. “I got to play with some great people. [The Final Four] is a once in a lifetime experience. That’s what everyone wants to do in college basketball.”
He feels like he has a good chance of landing a summer league invite, but knows there are a lot of guards out there even from last year’s draft.
“I’m just going to pray and hope I get an opportunity,” Bryant said.