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Spurs draft pick Marcus Denmon
Kansas State guard Jacob Pullen (0) shoots over Missouri defenders Marcus Denmon, left, Laurence Bowers and Matt Pressey, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, in Manhattan, Kan. Pullen scored 24 points in the game. Kansas State defeated Missouri 80-70. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) (AP)
Missouri’s Marcus Denmon, left, shoots past Colorado’s Keegan Hornbuckle, right, while scoring two of his game-high 21 points during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won the game 92-63. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) (AP)
Missouri’s Marcus Denmon celebrates after making a shot during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kennesaw State, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won the game 104-67. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) (AP)
Missouri’s Marcus Denmon, right, dunks the ball over Texas’ J’Covan Brown, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won the game 84-73. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) (AP)
Missouri guard Marcus Denmon (12) goes to the basket in front of Oklahoma’s Cameron Clark (21) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Norman, Okla. on Monday, Feb. 6, 2012. Missouri won 71-68. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Marcus Denmon #12 of the Missouri Tigers shoots against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Basketball Tournament March 8, 2012 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. (Ed Zurga / Getty Images)
Marcus Denmon #12 of the Missouri Tigers reacts in the first half of their game against the Texas Longhorns during the semifinals of the 2012 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament at Sprint Center on March 9, 2012 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
Marcus Denmon #12 of the Missouri Tigers shoots against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Basketball Tournament March 8, 2012 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. (Ed Zurga / Getty Images)
At the moment his wildest dream came true, Marcus Denmon was all alone.
He was holed up in a room at the Sheraton in downtown Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday night, watching the NBA draft on TV and trying his best to keep down his dinner.
Projected to be a late second-round selection, the former Missouri guard was hoping for the best, preparing for the worst, and not wishing to share an instant of the roller-coaster ride with anybody.
It was just before 11 o’clock when Denmon’s cell phone buzzed, piercing his four-star fortress of solitude. It was Spurs general manager R.C. Buford, informing Denmon the team was prepared to name him with the penultimate pick, No. 59 overall.
Denmon checked out of the Sheraton without spending the night.
“I was just so relieved,” said Denmon, a two-time All-Big 12 selection and second-team All-American at Missouri. “The first thing I did was grab all my things out of that hotel room and go to where my family was.”
Denmon celebrated deep into the night with relatives at his grandmother’s house, but awoke Friday to a new reality: He was a step closer to the NBA but with odds still stacked against him.
Second-round picks are guaranteed nothing in the NBA. At 6-foot-3, Denmon is considered undersized for a pro shooting guard, the position he played most in college.
Typically speaking, little is ever expected out of the No. 59 pick, which is fine by Denmon.
“I feel I’m better than the 59th pick,” Denmon said.
When the Spurs’ one-man draft class arrives in San Antonio on July 5, the team’s brain trust — from Buford and coach Gregg Popovich on down — will greet Denmon with one directive: Prove it.
“We’ll find out in time how he fits in an NBA system,” Buford said. “I don’t think the expectations were overwhelming (at 59). But we like the pick and look forward to bringing him in and seeing how he does.”
Nobody questions Denmon’s credentials as a fill-it-up scorer. As a senior last season, Denmon averaged 17.7 points — tied for second in the Big 12 — and led Missouri to its second conference tournament championship in four years.
Over his four college seasons, Denmon shot better than 40 percent from 3-point range, one of the most accurate marksmen in the country.
And yet there he was Thursday, in self-imposed solitary confinement, moments away from going undrafted.
“With my accolades and my body of work, I was still overlooked,” said Denmon, who next month will compete for the Spurs’ summer league team in Las Vegas.
“I’m going in hungry and humble.”
And, perhaps, with a chip on his shoulder.
It was the same story for Denmon heading into college, when he arrived at Missouri as the nation’s No. 150 recruit, a three-star prospect, under-recruited despite a stellar schoolboy career in Kansas City.
Missouri coach Frank Haith calls Denmon “a tough, hard-nosed, gritty kid.”
Haith believes such determination will serve Denmon well in his bid to make the Spurs.
“He’s had to grind it out his whole career,” Haith said. “That’s his makeup. In order to survive, you need a little edge. He plays with an edge.”
With the Spurs relatively well-stocked with scorers on the wing, Denmon will have his work cut out for him as he aims to earn a roster spot.
If he can mold himself into at least a part-time point guard, perhaps Denmon might carve a role competing with Patrick Mills and Cory Joseph for minutes behind Tony Parker.
Denmon says he’s spent much of his time since the end of the college season sharpening his pick-and-roll skills for just such a purpose.
“I think it’s become one of my strengths,” he said.
If Denmon doesn’t make it to opening day with the Spurs, he’s determined it won’t be for lack of trying.
“My toughness, my competitive nature — that’s something that’s going to transfer well,” Denmon said.
In March, Haith told reporters in Columbia, Mo., he thought Denmon would face an uphill battle against his type in the NBA.
“Marcus, I think, will be unfortunately talked about (for) what he can’t do,” Haith said. “But, man, he sure does something to help you win. I hope somebody will recognize that and give him a chance.”
At almost literally the 11th hour Thursday night, the Spurs gave Denmon his chance.
Now all he has to do is make the most of it.
“Nothing’s ever been given to me,” Denmon said. “I’ve had to work for everything I’ve got. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN
