Balancing Priorities

By Gus Bode

A future with an NBA team would be great, but for now SIU senior Randal Falker is more focused on the obstacles in front of him.

Falker, who averaged 7.7 rebounds per game last season for the SIU basketball team, will concentrate on preparing for his tryouts at the USA Men’s Basketball Pan American Team. The 6-foot-7-inch senior was one of 30 college athletes chosen earlier this month to try out for the team.

Falker, who averaged 12.3 points per game last season, said he was honored to be selected to tryout for the Pan American Team, but refused to get too happy because the main obstacle is still in front of him.

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“You can get selected to tryout, but your goal is to make the team,” Falker said. “That all depends on my work ethic, how much I am in the weight room and how healthy I am.” The tryouts will take place at Haverford College from July 12-14. Falker is the only participant selected from the Missouri Valley Conference as a potential player.

Sophomore forward Jordan Armstrong said he has been playing basketball with Falker for two years now and he has seen Falker grow into an NBA-caliber prospect.

“At first, he wasn’t finishing around the basket well,” Armstrong said. “He wasn’t shaky, but definitely wasn’t the scoring force that he is today.”

Falker said he isn’t focusing on making the NBA, but instead is taking his future one step at a time. Saluki basketball and the Pan American Games are his top priorities, he said.

“The future is in my mind, but if you only focus on making the NBA, you forget about the little things like being a great leader, a great player, having a great senior year and making the Pan American Team,” Falker said.

Regardless of what happens at the trials, Falker should count on having a positive learning experience and a chance to improve his skills on the court.

Head coach Chris Lowery said having an athlete from SIU selected to try out for the team is great for the SIU community as a whole and gives respect to the SIU program for having athletes who are recognized nationally.

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Lowery said for Falker to be invited to the trials is an honor in itself.

“Falker will be given the chance to go against guys who already have national names in BCS conferences,” Lowery said. Assistant coach Brad Korn said that while Falker has the tools needed to make the team, just getting the chance to compete with the best athletes will only improve his game.

“Randal brings a lot to the table and can also be pretty explosive,” Korn said. “The exposure and opportunity for him to play against top notch athletes will only make him better.” The 2007 Pan American Games will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from July 13-29. The men’s basketball team will compete from July 25-29 against teams from North America, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Other NCAA athletes who were invited to the Pan American Games Tryouts include:

  • Jon Brockman (Washington / Snohomish, Wash.)
  • Brian Butch (Wisconsin / Appleton, Wis.)
  • Josh Carter (Texas A’M / Dallas, Texas)
  • Mario Chalmers (Kansas / Anchorage, Alaska)
  • Sherron Collins (Kansas / Chicago, Ill.)
  • Brandan Costner (North Carolina State / West Orange, N.J.)
  • Eric Devendorf (Syracuse / Bay City, Mich.)
  • Joey Dorsey (Memphis / Baltimore, Md.)
  • Wayne Ellington (North Carolina / Wynnewood, Pa.)
  • Shan Foster (Vanderbilt / Lenner, La.)
  • Alonzo Gee (Alabama / Palm Beach, Fla.)
  • James Gist (Maryland / Silver Spring, Md.)
  • Richard Hendrix (Alabama / Athens, Ala.)
  • Roy Hibbert (Georgetown / Adelphi, Md.)
  • Maarty Leunen (Oregon / Redmond, Ore.
  • Chris Lofton (Tennessee / Maysville, Ky.)
  • Derrick Low (Washington State / Honolulu, Hawaii)
  • Wesley Matthews (Marquette / Madison, Wis.)
  • Eric Maynor (Virginia Commonwealth / Fayetteville, N.C.)
  • Jerel McNeal (Marquette / Chicago, Ill.)
  • Tasmin Mitchell (LSU / Denham Springs, La.)
  • Drew Neitzel (Michigan State / Grand Rapids, Mich.
  • DeMarcus Nelson (Duke / Elk Grove, Calif.)
  • Ahmad Nivins (Saint Joseph’s / Jersey City, N.J.)
  • Scottie Reynolds (Villanova / Herndon, Va.)
  • Jon Scheyer (Duke / Northbrook, Ill.)
  • Bryce Taylor (Oregon / Encino, Calif.)
  • Kyle Weaver (Washington State / Beloit, Wis.)
  • D.J. White (Indiana / Tuscaloosa, Ala.).

Source: SIU Media Services Website

Eugene Clark can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 269 or [email protected]

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