NBA Hoops: Casspi confident of making history in next week's draft

Maccabi Tel Aviv forward spends the last three weeks in the US impressing NBA teams.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Omri Casspi 248.88 (photo credit: AP)
Omri Casspi 248.88
(photo credit: AP)
Omri Casspi admitted on Wednesday that he faces some "sleepless nights" over the coming week ahead of next Thursday's NBA draft at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Maccabi Tel Aviv forward, who will celebrate his 21st birthday on Monday, spent the last three weeks in the US impressing NBA teams in the hope of being selected in the first round of the draft. Casspi returned to Israel for a brief holiday on Wednesday, but will travel back to the US next week and will be present at the Garden on draft night. "I'm going to have a few more sleepless nights, but I hope everything will work out next Thursday," Casspi said upon his arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. Casspi is currently being projected to be a late first round to early second round pick in the draft, with a first round selection to all but guarantee he becomes Israel's first NBA player. "I started this trip with the NBA combine in Chicago before working out in front of representatives from practically every team. I think I did a good job," Casspi said. "The workouts were very intensive and tough." Casspi was confident of making history next week. "I'm optimistic," he said. "If I wasn't I wouldn't have stayed in the draft. I think I have a good chance of going in the first round this year. My goal is to play in the NBA next season."