New Hawk Mike Scott Ready to Start NBA Career

By: Nathan Sulham - Email

Updated: Sun 12:06 AM, Jul 01, 2012

June 30, 2012

It was a long journey and at times, he wasn't even sure he'd get there.

But Mike Scott finally heard his name called in the second round of the NBA Draft as the Atlanta Hawks selected the former Virginia All-ACC forward with the 43rd overall selection.

"Of course there was joy," Scott said on his reaction to being drafted. "My mother cried, all my close family and friends were there. I was just happy my name was called."

Scott played for two different coaches at Virginia and battled a serious ankle injury to make it to the NBA, something he still can't totally believe.

"I wouldn't have believed it. Going through the different coach changes, the ankle injury, having to come back and work extra hard last summer to lose 20 pounds and work on my game. Now being an NBA player, it's a dream come true."

The 6-8, 240-pound Scott will play power forward for the Hawks. His NBA career begins in less than two weeks in the NBA summer league in Las Vegas.

Scott may be undersized as far as NBA power forwards go but his shooting ability is what should help him against bigger opponents.

"I'm undersized for a power forward but I can stretch the defense and shoot and put the ball on the ground," he explained. "I'm just going to come in and be a high motor guy, rebound and learn from the veterans."

With everything he's been through during his time at UVa, Scott feels well prepared to tackle the rigors of the NBA.

"Just the ups and downs of my career, I had some highs, had some lows. That's something that's going to happen every night in the NBA. You're going to have good games and bad games so my time at UVa has prepared me and made me a more mature individual."

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