NBA draft is dream come true!

Kenny Adeleke remembers watching the NBA draft growing up in his South Jamaica home. Now, he may be a part of it. &#8220It’s been my biggest dream,” he said. &#8220It’s everybody’s dream to get drafted. You just have to leave it in God’s hands.”
It has been a long and grinding journey to this year’s NBA draft for Adeleke, 23. After starring for Robeson High School, he struggled at Hofstra, before transferring to Hartford two years ago, under the guidance of his high school coach, Larry Major.
But during the mandatory year off the NCAA imposes for switching schools, Major committed suicide after he was arrested for having an alleged affair with a former student. But before that horrific day, Major had instilled a work ethic within Adeleke – who lived just five minutes from the coach – that enabled him to star at Hartford, where he averaged 20 points and 13.1 rebounds, the latter good for second best in the nation.
&#8220I think he’s the reason why I am in the position I am today; actually, I know it,” said the 6-foot-8, 255-pound Adeleke. &#8220He just helped me get better as a basketball player.”
Adeleke, of course, deserves much of the credit. Despite his breakout senior season, he flew &#8220under the radar,” of NBA teams and their scouts, his agent Michael Whitaker admits. But standout performances at the Portsmouth Invitational and the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando opened many eyes. At the showcase in Orlando, which invites the top 64 prospects, Adeleke, now projected as a second round pick, was the lone player to average a double-double. &#8220I just wanted to show teams I could score and I could rebound,” he said.
&#8220To have Kenny develop to this point is incredible,” said Tyrone Sherrod, a former assistant coach at Robeson during Adeleke’s time there. &#8220He was always a hard worker and a good listener. He was the type of kid that if you told him he needed to do something to get better, he was going to do it.”
Adeleke has worked out for 10 organizations, including the Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets, and his hometown team, the New York Knicks. &#8220I would love for them to pick me, because that was the team I grew up watching,” he said. &#8220But at the end of the day, I want the team that is the most interested in me to draft me.”