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Show V Larry McKinney, Uintah High School graduate in 1976, and a basketball star who was the number one scorer in the 1976 3-A State Tournament plus a college star at Snow College and Boise State University, had a chance to play for the Indiana Pacers this year in the NBA, but he turned them down. Uintah's McKinney, who was with the Pacers last summer until their final cut, is back home in Ogden. The McKinney family just recently moved from Vernal to Ogden. McKinney returned from England where he averaged 26 points and 11.5 rebounds a game, both game-leading totals for his Talbot team. When asked to comment why he decided not to play for the Pacers McKinney remarked, "They (Pacers) wanted me to join the team for the last eight games of this year. Once I play in an official NBA game-not a pre-season game-that would have cancelled my amateur basketball status and all basketball in Europe is considered amateur. Say I would have played for the last two weeks of the season and then didn't make it with them next year, I would have had to sit out a year before returning to Europe." McKinney added, "Indiana didn't know the rules but, when I told them, they decided it would be better if I didn't play; As painful as it was, I had to tell them, 'No, I couldn't.'" The pacers assured McKinney that it wouldn't affect his status for their summer camp a camp McKinney has already been invited to attend again. McKinney was waived by the Pacers t as he was supposed to play in the Continental League, but he didn't have a choice of which team he would play for. "The Continental League isn't a farm league for the NBA but they do have the right to certain NBA draft choices. The Pacers' team was in Rochester, New York. If I was going to play in the Continental League, I would have rather played in Montana where there are two teams," said McKinney. Former Ute, McKinney added. "I wasn't afraid I couldn't make the team in Rochester but the deal in Europe was better financially. Indiana guaranteed me that they would invite me back to camp regardless if I went to Europe. After talking to the Rochester coach, I wasn't sure I wanted to play there. Let's say I abruptly changed my mind." McKinney went off to England and had a good year. McKinney and Robin Jones were the only two Americans on the England team. The super point production and rebound total were good items, but another good thing was the fact that McKinney put some weight on his 6'11" frame, When McKinney left for England he weighed 190 and after lifting weights all the time he was there he returned at 205 pounds. "It was a good experience but it's not the same ballpark as American basketball," said McKinney. "All the teams have one, two or three good American players but the good English players are few and far between." McKinney said that he was in awe of the players in the Pacers camp last year. This year McKinney thinks his attitude will be different. "When I go to camp, I'll go with a positive attitude. I know what to expect and I'll be better prepared. I'm encouraged. I was the first player they called to replace a couple of injured players this year. It's very encouraging that they sent me to Europe and didn't forget about me," stated McKinney. "Making an NBA team has always been in the back of my mind and it's been a goal. I have come close to that goal and I'll work hard to make it a reality." PETROLEUM LEAGUE Team Standings W L Gale Trucking 45 19 Western Petroleum 44 20 Hatch River Grand Canyon 32 21 High Series Don Lewis 600 David Kay 554 Butch Kay 553 Ted Hatch 558 High Games Don Lewis 246 DuaneBoren 236 GeneGurr 220 |