In the last organized basketball game they played, the Seton Hall senior duo of Jordan Theodore and Herb Pope lost an NIT game to UMass in the cozy confines of Walsh Gym.
With both players now at the Portsmouth Invitational in front of a slew of NBA scouts, Pope sprained his ankle Thursday night after managing just 4 points and 4 rebounds and is done for the rest of the event.
Theodore, meantime, was anxious to get a win under his belt.
“That was was a point of emphasis,” Theodore told SNY.tv by phone Friday morning. “I told the guys in the locker room, ‘Let’s get a win coming out in my first professional game.'”
Theodore finished with 14 points on 6-for-15 shooting with 7 assists and 2 turnovers as Portsmouth Partnership beat Mike Duman, 85-79. Alabama’s JaMychal Green went off for 29 points and 10 rebounds for Theodore’s team.
“I feel good,” said Theodore, a second-team All-Big East selection. “I did my job, I got guys involved. I was able to lead my team and run the show.”
Said one veteran NBA scout who was at the game: “Jordan did a decent job. He played OK. He hit a couple of shots. He handled and passed the ball pretty well.”
Theodore has signed with Jeff Dobin of Athlete Advocates but is currently projected to go undrafted. He will likely have to work his way into an NBA camp and then impress in summer league play.
“I don’t think he’s going to get drafted,” the NBA scout said. “I think he’ll get invited to camp. His shooting is a problem, his averages are a problem from the floor and from the 3 points. That’s the problem with Jordan Theodore.
“He can hande, he can pass. I don’t know why he didn’t put more time into shooting his ball on his own. The kid’s gotta be able to hit his shot.”
Theodore averaged 16.1 points for the Pirates, but shot 39 percent from the field and 31 percent from 3.
“Right now I’m predicted as undrafted,” Theodore said, “but that’s not going to stop me from doing my best, showing the scouts and GMs and everybody else that I’m a good player and I can play in the NBA.”
Asked about potentially playing overseas as former Seton Hall players Andre Barrett, Brian Laing, Jeremy Hazell, Jamar Nutter and Jeff Robinson have done, Theodore said: “Well, you know, overseas is not what I’m thinking about right now. My only goal is the NBA, so that’s what I’m going to try and do. If not the NBA, then definitely overseas but right now my only option is the NBA.”
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