GREAT FALLS — C.M. Russell High School and Stanford graduate Josh Huestis (HEW’-stiss) figures he has a pretty good shot at playing basketball in the NBA this winter. He’ll find out Thursday evening whether his dream of being drafted will come true.
Huestis tells the Great Falls Tribune he’ll be watching the two-round, 60-player NBA Draft at the Sting Sports Bar in Great Falls.
His draft stock rose after he helped Stanford advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament and set the university’s career blocked shots record at 190. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 11 points and eight rebounds as a senior.
Huestis participated in official pre-draft workouts with 18 of the league’s 30 teams and said they were impressed with his defense and rebounding skills.
“And I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback about the fact I’d be a good teammate,” he said.
“From everything I’m hearing, I’m pretty positive about it. I think there’s a great chance I’ll hear my name called,” he said.
If not, he said he’d go the free-agent route and would have an opportunity to play in NBA summer league games.
“I’m going to exhaust every opportunity I can,” he said.
Huestis said he doesn’t have a favorite NBA team, but he hopes to by Thursday evening.
“I hope a lot of people here will have a new favorite team,” he said.
Former University of Montana standout Larry Krystkowiak, now the coach of the Utah men’s basketball team, is believed to be the last Montana native chosen in the NBA draft — 28 years ago. The Chicago Bulls took Krystkowiak with the 28th overall pick in 1986.