Local Two-Sport Star Pat Connaughton Enjoying Pursuit of NBA Career
BOSTON (CBS) – The Celtics have worked out over 40 prospects already in Waltham this summer, but the most unique athlete out of the bunch arrived in town on Wednesday in the form of Notre Dame product Pat Connaughton.
The Massachusetts native grew up in Arlington and starred at St. John's Prep as a pitcher and forward on the basketball team. That talent led him to Notre Dame, where the 6-foot-5 prospect developed into a top-tier MLB prospect as well as a integral part of the Irish basketball team.
Connaughton was drafted in the fourth round last summer by the Baltimore Orioles after his junior season and signed with the franchise. At the time of the signing, the 22-year-old made sure the Orioles know he intended to finish his collegiate basketball career with Notre Dame for his senior year. After putting together a stellar season averaging 12.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for an Elite 8 Notre Dame, Connaughton let the Orioles know he wasn't ready to give up his dream of being an NBA player just yet.
"I think both the Orioles and myself weren't sure how far basketball would go [when I signed]," Connaughton said Wednesday after his workout in Waltham. "I think they were hoping it would end after college. I was just playing it every single day like I normally do and taking it day-by-day because that's the only thing you can do with two sports. I found myself here and excited to pursue the opportunity."
The allure of playing in the NBA from Connaughton is admirable, but isn't a sure thing long-term. The swingman is rated as the 61st best prospect on DraftExpress.com in this year's draft class, making him a potential second round draft pick at best. There is not a lot of guaranteed money given out to second round picks (compared to his potential MLB earnings) and the possibility remains that all 30 NBA teams will pass on him altogether. Connaughton has prepared himself for all of those scenarios, but remains optimistic about his chances.
"For me, I try to take it like I may not get drafted. I try to work as hard as I can every single day. It's been such a whirlwind over the last few months. I hope to be drafted. I'm working as hard as I can. I have some confidence in myself that I have a chance to, but we'll see what happens on June 25."
Connaughton later added: "I don't think the Draft is necessarily a do-or-die point for me with basketball. I think I'll probably be able to compete in summer league, I'll be able to fight for a roster spot regardless of if I'm drafted or not drafted. And then if I don't make an NBA roster, then I'll consider baseball instead."
For now, the hometown kid is hoping he might have a chance to suit up for a Celtic team he grew up rooting for.
"No doubt about it," Connaughton said of his Boston fandom. "I was a Celtics fan when Antoine Walker was doing [The Wiggle] and when the Big Three was winning championships."
He admitted to feeling some butterflies while working out for Brad Stevens, but that didn't stop him from getting in a little trash talk on the former Butler head coach.
"It was great to play under him for an hour and a half," Connaughton said of Stevens. "We had our jokes about the Butler-Notre Dame game this year. He's 1-0 when he's faced Notre Dame. I let him know that that's because I wasn't there when he faced Notre Dame. So, it was fun. It's always fun to have a little talk with the coaches, the guys you could possibly play under in a year."
As for his potential fit in Boston, Connaughton summed up the possibility quite succinctly.
"Of course [I'd be a good fit]. I look good in green," he said with a smile.
With a pair of second round draft picks and a need for outside shooting, the chance of Connaughton eventually landing in Boston is more than a remote possibility, but he'll have to wait a couple more weeks to see if his NBA dream comes true.
Brian Robb covers the Celtics for CBS Boston and contributes to NBA.com, among other media outlets. You can follow him on Twitter @CelticsHub.
