UALR's Josh Hagins has NBA hopes, not banking on the draft

UALR's Josh Hagins is shown in this file photo.
UALR's Josh Hagins is shown in this file photo.

It's been more than three months since Josh Hagins gained a good bit of notoriety.

Hagins, shooting from near midcourt in Denver, hit three-pointer with five seconds left in regulation that helped UALR beat Purdue in the NCAA Tournament.

At a glance

Josh Hagins

POSITION Guard

HEIGHT 6-1

WEIGHT 180

NOTABLE Holds UALR record for most career games played (128), ranks third in points (1,475), assists (468) and steals (179) and fifth in field goals (525) and three-pointers made (175). … First-team all-Sun Belt Conference this season. … Invited to workouts with the Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics. … Ranked by DraftExpress.com as the No. 71 college senior.

That 31-point performance was the high point of Hagins' collegiate career, which ended ended two days later in a second-round loss to Iowa State.

Hagins, who left UALR ranking in its top five for career points, games played, assists, field goals, three pointers and assists, has been too busy to reflect on the NCAA Tournament run.

"I kind of lived in the moment when it happened," Hagins said earlier this week. "But, this determines the next two-to-three years of my life. So, I can't spend too much time worrying about what got me here. Just have to stay in the now."

Hagins has been too busy working out for NBA teams such as the Sacramento Kings, Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets in hope of catching the eye of coaches and executives in advance of today's NBA Draft.

His chances for being drafted tonight appear slim -- he doesn't appear in any major NBA mock drafts, and DraftExpress.com ranks him the 71st best college senior -- but Hagins said he doesn't think not getting drafted will end his chances of playing professionally.

Hagins said he's eyeing spots in the NBA summer league, the NBA Development League or overseas. For Hagins, who rarely played on a national stage and didn't have eye-catching stats, he's just asking for a chance.

That's why he's been in Houston, working out at a training facility run by former NBA player and coach John Lucas. There, he's practiced with Maryland's Rasheed Sulaimon, Kansas' Perry Ellis and Purdue's A.J. Hammons and others. Hagins has been so focused on taking advantage of his opportunity that he hasn't even exchanged much talk with Hammons, whose college career was ended by Hagins' clutch shots in March.

"We talked a little bit the first few days," Hagins said, "but we kind of let it go."

Hagins said he understands part of his current opportunity is rooted in his performance in Denver, when he scored 21 of his points in the final four minutes of regulation and in two subsequent overtimes.

He said the thinks it caused some to open eyes and look closer at his credentials.

"I think it showed people that I can do it against anybody," he said. "I've been able to put together big games before, it's just that, the magnitude of that game was obviously bigger, in the NCAA Tournament. It just has given me a little edge as far as just being seen."

Hagins said his agent -- Dallas-based Jeremiah Haylett -- gets the feedback from the teams, which for the most part has been positive. But there's really no way to know where he sits on teams wish lists.

His chance to work out in front of the Celtics gave him hope, because they have eight of the 60 draft picks. But given that he is ranked 71st among college seniors, and less than 15 are expected to be drafted, Hagins is realistic.

If he doesn't hear his name called, he could still earn a spot in the NBA summer league, which take place at varying times next month in Orlando, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. That, Hagins said, could get him a chance for a roster spot. If not, he'll hope for a spot in the Developmental League, either through the draft or a tryout.

A spot overseas is down his list of alternatives.

"There's nothing wrong with overseas," he said. "I just don't want to do that. There's nothing wrong with it, I'm sure there's a lot of money to be made out there. But, I want to be in the NBA, and I want to be as close to the NBA as possible."

Sports on 06/23/2016

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