In 2006, Hilton Armstrong was the 12th overall pick in the NBA Draft, selected by the Hornets out of UConn. The Sonics (Thunder) and Wizards were two other teams Armstrong knew were interested in him at the time. And there was another team, drafting far later, that had him on its radar: the Nets.
“I didn’t know that,” the 6-foot-11 Armstrong said yesterday after the completion of the Nets’ three-day mini-camp for free agents. “I hope that’s a harbinger for some good things. It would be real nice to play here. I’d be real happy.”
Why not? The former lottery pick spent last year in France. Not that France was bad — “It was great,” Armstrong said. But it wasn’t the NBA. And now the Nets are headed for Brooklyn, which is doubly appealing for the Peekskill product.
“It’s awesome. I was so excited just to hear about it. Even if I wasn’t on the team, no matter where I was, to hear the area was getting another team was really exciting,” Armstrong said. “I called my friends and everybody back home in Peekskill was saying, ‘You’ve got to play for them, you’ve got to play for them.’ It would be great especially the first year there, it would be huge.”
So Armstrong was among the many players with NBA experience — he played five seasons, landing with five teams (Hornets, Kings, Rockets, Wizards, Hawks) — who hoped to impress Nets brass and coaches at the mini-camp.
“What I like about Hilton is he’s long and he knows how to play. I think the biggest thing for Hilton is doing it consistently,” Nets GM Billy King said. “I think he got better each day. ‘’I like his length, because the one thing is it’s hard to find athletic size in this league.”
Armstrong said his offensive game is still emerging. That and a team concept were the two things he tried to show the Nets this week.
“I took a couple of jump shots that I usually don’t take. I think that was my biggest problem through my career. I know I can shoot but for some reason when it comes to game time or in front of coaches, I tighten up,” Armstrong admitted. “Last year, I tried to play with a little more freedom and now I feel like I have much more to gain than I have to lose.
“I’m not trying to play selfish or anything,” Armstrong continued. “I know the coaches see that. I know some players — I’m not saying here today — but a lot of people try to play a little selfish trying to showcase themselves and I was never a scorer so that doesn’t hurt me. I just try to defend, rebound and be in the right place at the right time.”
And the one place he wasn’t for the Nets was at 22 and 23 in the 2006 draft. That’s where the Nets drafted Marcus Williams, then Josh Boone. Back then, former Nets president Rod Thorn talked approvingly of Armstrong, although they didn’t have any sit-downs.
“I never knew that. I’m glad my name was out there. I like that,” Armstrong said.
fred.kerber@nypost.com