Trevor Booker: Washington's Overlooked Newcomer

If you’re a fan of the Washington Wizards, then you are familiar with rookie hopeful Trevor Booker.

Not necessarily because he was acquired by the Wizards on draft night back in June, but because Booker terrorized our beloved Maryland Terrapins for years in ACC hoops action.

Often considered “undersized” and not a position-specific player, the 6'7, 240 pound Clemson alum is now making those critics eat their words with his current Summer League play.

As we’ve always said, Booker’s commitment, intensity, and physical play will keep him in the league for a long time.

He is a hard-working individual with great size that would appear to become a fan, and coach’s, favorite. And to prove it, the Wizards’ scouts have already given the young forward a nickname, “Grown-Ass Man”.

“I guess because I’m just so tough out there on the court,” said Booker. “Especially since I came to college, everybody’s been telling me I’m so tough and aggressive. Maybe I get it from my dad; he’s aggressive.”

During predraft workouts in Chicago, Booker came into the drills with the idea of dominating.

He bench-pressed 185 pounds an impressive 22 times, behind only one other player (Harangody).

His 3.10-second three-quarters court dash was best amongst the combine, even beating out John Wall’s 3.14 time.

Booker also posted a vertical leap of 36 inches (tied for ninth at the combine) and his performance in the agility drill, which tied for ninth as well.

Dan Steinberg, author of DC Sports Bog, reported, “The San Antonio Spurs told Booker that in their overall athletic calculation coming out of the combine, he ranked first.”

In a time when the future looks so bright for the Washington Wizards franchise, we have to be sure not to overlook this young man. Or Grown-Ass Man…

The electrifying performance of John Wall and the improved play of JaVale McGee usually steals headlines, but Trevor Booker is just as deserving.