PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – You look at NBA mock drafts, most don’t have Justin Champagnie’s name on them. That hasn’t swayed his decision to leave Pitt or induced fear of not being selected Thursday night.
“Me personally, I don’t see my name not being called,” Champagnie said. “I try to live life in a positive sense. From the feedback I’ve gotten back, I don’t think that will be my issue.”
While he declined to name the team, Champagnie says one of the teams he spoke with guaranteed that if he’s still there when they pick in the second round. They will select him.
“I’m confident in myself,” Champagnie said. “I’m confident in my chances. I will roll with that.”
He’s not taking it for granted, since he left Pitt the All-ACC forward has been getting up at 5 every morning to start preparation all leading up to Thursday night.
Champagnie said he’s traveled to work out for nearly half of the NBA teams, along with the NBA Combine. All looking to prove what he could do at the next level.
He said one of the better pieces of advice he received is to just trust his game. Do what you do best and believe it will be good enough at the next level.
There are some areas where he wants to show improvement to his prospective bosses.
“My shooting and ball handling,” Champagnie said. “Not crazy ball handling, just being able to take one to three dribbles, finish off for myself or create for a teammate. Being able to knock down open shots when they come and always being ready.”
He’s talked to a couple of NBA players who warned him it was going to be rough to start. That it’s a job now, not like college. Champagnie said Toronto world champion Pascal Siakam told him the work never stops, but it is fun.
“I just wanted to follow my dreams,” Champagnie said. Whenever I get this, I get a gut feeling. I act on it. I feel like I made the right one.”
Champagnie will be with his family in Brooklyn on draft day. He predicts he will be excited and might shed a tear, but likely will ‘keep it gangster for the camera’.
“I’m excited,” Champagnie said. “I feel like I felt when I first came to Pitt right now. I was excited to see how it all plays out, see where I end up. How I end up playing.”
“I believe in myself. Every day I wake up and say I’m blessed to be in that position.”