Return of The Mac

Just when you thought Demetri McCamey would fade into irrelevance like the New Radicals and Arsenio Hall, he has again proven hard to shake (no pun intended to his defensive prowess). The former All-Big 10 point guard for the University of Illinois has recently signed a summer league contract with his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls.

Now, a summer league contract is about as guaranteed double-down blackjack at Rivers. But, it is an opportunity, and that is exactly what McCamey deserves. After signing an overseas contract due to the lockout's restrictions on undrafted rookies, McCamey put up stellar numbers in a league that nobody wihtout a pencil-mustache and an affinity for kebabs cares about. Nonethelss, it seems that Meechi--as he is affectionately referred to--has moved on from Mersin Büyükşehir Belediyesi S.K. (God bless the copy/paste feature) of the Turkish basketball league, where he shared the spotlight with other former recognizable American names such as Illinois' own former prodigal son of their dream season in 2005, Dee Brown.

What is intriguing, and quite honestly, beneficial for McCamey is his ability to fit into the NBA protype point guard. Of course, smaller guards like Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Brandon Jennings, and Tony Parker break that mold with their quickness and ability to permeate through perimeter traps and around erosion-footed bigs like the Lopez brothers. That said, McCamey is listed at 6'3'', 200 lbs--a size comparable to guards like Eric Gordon, Deron Williams, and everyone's favorite Uncle Drew, Kyrie Irving.

Mac will most likely be backing up Marquis Teague at the point and will also be spelling Jimmy Butler in the backcourt for the Summer League squad. What bodes well for the former St. Joe's Charger is his willingness to improve. While in Champaign-Urbana, McCamey flourished in an offensive system set forth by Bruce Weber that was conceivably drawn up on a napkin at a local Chili's. In his early years in the Orange and Blue, his frustration with both his teammates and the system was noticeable on his face and through his play; he was turnover-prone and at times took ill-advised shots trying to keep the Chief in games that were slipping faster than Sanka Coffee on his first taste of ice in Cool Runnings.

With the luxury of playing experience as an underclassman, McCamey flourished in his Junior and Senior seasons. When it was clear that Weber was living on a different planet than the 5 he had set forth on the floor, McCamey corralled the group with a pastoral grace and proceeded to lead the Big 10 in assists at 7 dimes a tilt, shattering Deron Williams' record set in 2005 (with a far superior supporting cast) and falling just 20 helpers shy of Matteen Cleaves' Big 10 record set, again, with a Final 4 caliber bunch.

You can only help but pull for the Bellwood native as he ventures into the wide world of underwatched, untelevised basketball. In speaking on behalf of Illini alums, the Orange Krush, and a slew of Asian students who occupy the Grainger Engineering Library on the campus of U of I, let's hope D-Mac joins Gene Pingatore, Isiah Thomas, Evan Turner, and the Hoop Dreams boys as St. Joe's living legacies.

As for Pick of the Day, The Pulse Man is still on hiatus with the MLB returning to regular play tomorrow afternoon.

Now I'm done. Rack me.

Frost