Prospect Ennis isn’t older, he’s experienced
Where some see obstacles, others see opportunity. It is how Dylan Ennis lives his life these days and, regardless of what transpires in the next month, his attitude is sure to stand him in good stead as the longer-term future unfolds.
Ennis, you see, is an outlier, a 25year-old NBA prospect in an era of one-and-done college sensations, a five-year collegian substantially older than most in the pre-draft process.
But he gets it, he’s confident but realistic. The maturity level of the Brampton native is off the charts, and that’s the point he’s going to emphasize above all others.
“There’s a lot of guys who go to college and go straight to the league, and they haven’t been through the things I’ve been through,” Ennis said after he completed a workout for the Toronto Raptors at the club’s Biosteel Centre on Wednesday morning.
“I’ve came off the bench, I know how to deal with that. I’ve been a starter, I know how to deal with that. I know how to play off the ball, I know how to play on the ball. And I’m experienced, I know what the coach is going to want, I’m an extension of the coach on the floor.
“So instead of being older, I’m more experienced than a lot of guys.”
To be sure, the six-foot-two Ennis, the older brother of Los Angeles Lakers guard Tyler, is bucking some long odds. Forget about age, or the fact he spent a year at Rice, two at Villanova and two more at Oregon when most prospects play a season or two at college before moving on. The fact that there are only 60 draft spots available makes the chance of earning NBA employment minuscule.
But the well-spoken, grown-up Ennis realizes that.
“Obviously the league is (full of ) great players,” he said. “No matter if you’re 19 or 25, if you’re one of the better players, then somebody’s going to find you. I just get into these workouts, do the best I can, work as hard as I can, and be the best competitor out there.”
The chances of Ennis sticking with the Raptors in any form are remote. Toronto has the 23rd pick in next month’s draft and isn’t likely to use it on a guard with a roster full of them. The Raptors don’t currently have a second-round pick to use on someone who might help the team’s minor-league affiliate, so that avenue is also closed.
But word of mouth in the NBA is a strong and powerful thing and if Ennis impresses on the court and in interview sessions, a glowing reference from the Toronto brass certainly won’t hurt.
“You can be as talented as you want, but we’ve seen talented guys go down the wrong roads because they don’t have the right head on their shoulders,” Ennis said. “So I think this interview process is a great thing to have.”