Profile of Wayne Turner

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

      Boston Herald       

      Pointed toward home: Mission Hill's Turner aims to impress C's 
      by Mark Cofman 
      Friday, July 30, 1999
      Wayne Turner feels right at home playing for the Celtics in the Shaw's Pro 
      Summer League this week. He should. 
      Turner grew up in Mission Hill, just a few miles removed from the 
      UMass-Boston campus that is staging league games. He's performed in front 
      of family, friends and virtually everybody else from the old neighborhood 
      this week. He's been something of a gate attraction.
      ``At first I was pretty concerned about playing in the league here because 
      I have so many people pulling for me so much,'' said Turner, who will 
      start at point guard tonight when the Celtics resume league play against 
      the 76ers. ``I thought that might end up being a distraction - maybe add 
      more pressure.
      ``But I think everybody understands I'm fighting to make this team - that 
      this is an important time for me to focus on that goal. So far, it's been 
      a lot of fun playing here. The familiarity has worked as a positive.''
      Turner's familiarity goes beyond recognizable faces and local landscape. 
      Five years ago, while he was setting local basketball on fire for Beaver 
      Country Day, he was a blue-chip recruit for Rick Pitino at Kentucky. The 
      6-foot-1 guard, an open-court terror with great defensive skills, was 
      suited perfectly for Pitino's high-octane style. He still is. He probably 
      understands the Celtics' system better than some of the veterans.
      Turner went on to help the Wildcats win a pair of national titles during 
      his four-year collegiate career. That he should end up on Pitino's summer 
      league squad during his first venture as a professional comes as little 
      surprise. It's a bit like the law of gravity.
      Unfortunately for Turner, however, it took a night of bitter 
      disappointment to usher him to this stage. After playing well at the 
      Chicago pre-draft camp in mid-June, he went into NBA draft night confident 
      about his chances. Turner's name was never called.
      ``That definitely hurt,'' he said. ``But after the lottery picks, there's 
      really not a lot of certainty for any of the guys who are trying to make 
      it in the NBA, whether they're first-rounders or second-rounders. Being a 
      (free agent) works out just as well.''
      Actually, it works out better in many cases. Whereas Turner would have 
      been obligated to perform for one team during this offseason had he been 
      drafted, he can freely audition for any team with an interest. 
      Particularly those who need point guard help.
      ``I grew up watching the Celtics during the Bird-Parish-McHale era, so I 
      know about all the championships and tradition,'' said Turner, hoping to 
      join Pitino's crowded stable of ex-Wildcats that includes Antoine Walker, 
      Ron Mercer and Walter McCarty. ``The Celtics are the most successful team 
      in NBA history. Of course I'd love to be a part of that.
      ``But you have to be realistic, too. They could decide to go in a 
      different direction after this league ends. If that happened and I 
      couldn't earn a spot here, maybe I could fit in someplace else. There are 
      other team here watching us, too.''
      If they've watched Turner, they've seen a player who would seemingly be 
      ideal coming off the bench to energize a second unit. His strengths are 
      the ability to break down defenders off the dribble, defense and a 
      quarterback's poise. His primary weakness? Well, it's no secret to anyone 
      who has followed Turner's career.
      ``Everybody seems to know the book on Wayne,'' said Celtics general 
      manager Chris Wallace. ``The big question mark is his outside shot. But so 
      far for us (in the Fila League) in Long Beach (Calif.) and here, he's done 
      a good job of playing to his strengths and making the makeable shots. 
      Wayne's got a lot of talent and the potential to play in this league.''
      Pitino, perhaps because he doesn't want to give the impression of playing 
      favorites with ex-players, has been somewhat vague about Turner's chances 
      of sticking around this season. But the betting line midway through the 
      Shaw's Pro Summer League is that with the exception of Adrian Griffin, 
      Turner stands the best shot among free agents of resurfacing in a Celtics 
      uniform come training camp.
      ``That would be fine with me,'' said Turner. ``But if it doesn't happen, 
      this has still been a great experience for me.''