Hoosier Deep Throat, Christian Watford and the NBA

The ringing phone crashed against the peace of a summer-come-early spring night. It was Hoosier Deep Throat and his voice was as raw as fried cactus.

“We gotta talk,” he said, words slurring.

“Have you been drinking?” we asked, concerned.

“Have you been tweeting?” he asked, ticked.

“A little.”

“Watford,” he said.

When knew he referred to Christian Watford, Indiana’s 6-9 junior forward contemplating passing up his final year of college eligibility to enter the NBA Draft.

“What about him?”

“Meet me at the usual place,” Deep Throat said and hung up.

We arrived at an Indiana University parking garage just after midnight. Clouds cloaked the sky like a robe. Darkness settled deep and ominous. Someone coughed in the back of the garage. We edged closer hoping it was Deep Throat and not, say, a Silence of the Lambs wannabe.

“It’s about bleeping time,” a raw voice grumbled. A cigarette tip glowed from a dark corner, illuminating nothing except a shaky grip. A hand shot out of the darkness and slammed something onto the top of a garbage can.

“Is that a shot glass?” we asked.

“No, it’s an EMPTY shot glass,” Hoosier Deep Throat said. We noticed there were five just like it on the garbage can. Deep Throat was doing some heavy thinking.

“Watford’s leaving. He’s gonna try the NBA or wherever he ends up.”

“That’s not official. He can put his name in, get some pro feedback, and pull out as long as it’s by April 10.”

We heard a slurping sound. Another empty shot glass joined its brothers and sisters. “Dude is leaving. He doesn’t wanna finish what he started.”

We knew the decision Watford faced. Stay on a loaded IU team that will be boosted by one of the nation’s best recruiting classes, one that almost certainly will be a Big Ten and national title contender; or leave and –- maybe –- get rich. Watford is not projected as being drafted in one of the NBA’s two rounds, although he could change that with some strong workouts. The NBA’s developmental league or an overseas league are his likely best options.

“The guy wants to start his career,” we said. “He has that right.”

“It’s not about right,” Deep Throat said. “It’s about opportunity. How often do you get a chance to win a national championship? How often do you get to be a part of something really special, something people will remember for as long as there’s March Madness.”

“I’m not sure that’s at the top of his list,” we said.

“That’s the problem with people today. They don’t see the big picture. It’s an instant-gratification world. It’s all about now and money, rather than history and banners.”

“Seems a little harsh,” we said.

“I’ll tell you what’s harsh. Drinking this cheap-ass rock-gut whiskey.”

“Why drink it?”

“Because it’s better than crying.”

We answered with silence. Watford’s return would guarantee no championship. The Hoosiers will face plenty of obstacles and challenges, including whether coach Tom Crean can spread around the minutes so that everyone stays happy and focused on team success rather than individual glory.

“It’s been so long, I don’t even remember what winning a championship feels like,” Deep Throat said with a sigh sad enough to melt a stripper’s heart.

IU’s fifth and last national championship came in 1987. It came close in 2002 with a national runner-up finish. It reached the Final Four in 1992, but was done in during the semifinals by Duke and, some would say, referee Ted Valentine.

But when you consider a lineup of Cody Zeller, Watford, Victor Oladipo, Jordan Hulls and Will Sheehey from a 27-9 team that reached the Sweet 16, combined with nationally heralded newcomers such as Yogi Ferrell, Jeremy Hollowell, Hanner Mosquera-Perea, Ron Patterson and Peter Jurkin, well, not even Kentucky would have more talent.

Still, no guarantees. Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago that second-seeds Duke and Missouri were bounced out of the NCAA tourney in their first games.

“Gordon Hayward passed on that chance,” we said, referring to the former Butler standout who entered the NBA Draft in 2010 rather than return for a possible second NCAA tourney title run.

“Yeah, but the guy went ninth in the draft, to Utah. Ain’t no way Watford goes that high.”

Somewhere beyond the garage a cock crowed. We weren’t sure if it was the first, or the third, time.

“Still,” we said, “Watford has that Kentucky beating three-pointer, and then a 27-point game in the Sweet 16 loss to the Wildcats. He was a first-half game-saver against VCU, and made the All-South Regional team. He could guard everybody from point guards to centers. He’s not the quickest forward in America and he might not be as explosive as, say, Victor Oladipo, but he’s as hot as he’s ever been, maybe than he ever will be. Next year he might stumble. He might blow out a knee like Verdell Jones or Purdue’s Robbie Hummel.”

“Yeah, and a comet could hit the earth,” Deep Throat said, “or the Mayan prophecy could come true. But the odds say the earth survives the season, and Indiana with Watford is better than without him. And you can’t tell me Watford won’t be a better player with another college year of development.”

Deep Throat took a deep drag from the cigarette until the glow faded like Robert Redford’s good looks.

“Besides,” he said, “it’s the second contract where you make the most money. You gotta produce for that to happen. Watford can’t produce if he sits the bench, which is the best he’ll do if he makes a NBA team, which he won’t next year. And playing in some developmental league outpost or in international obscurity won't be as big as another world-is-watching NCAA tourney opportunity.”

“Perhaps, but if Watford leaves, it solves the over-signed dilemma that has IU with 14 players and 13 scholarships,” we say, searching for a silver lining.

“Like that’s a major issue,” he said. “You know, money is temporary. Just ask Dennis Rodman and Mike Tyson. But a national championship, that’s forever.”

We heard a lot of slurping. This time an unlabeled bottle hit the garbage can top.

“Where did you get that stuff?” we asked.

“A friend.”

“What kind of friend makes rock-gut whiskey?”

“You ask too many bleeping questions,” Deep Throw said.

And then he was gone.



*****


Verdell Jones can finally start the healing process.

Three weeks after he tore his ACL and ended his college basketball career, the senior guard had successful surgery to fix it.

Jones had the surgery Friday in Indianapolis by Thomas Klootwyk of Methodist Sports Medicine/The Orthopedic Specialists.

Jones, who hopes to resume his basketball career, averaged 7.5 points and 3.2 rebounds this season. He had one of the biggest assists in school history when he passed the ball to Watford for the game-winning three-pointer against top-ranked Kentucky.

Jones finished with 1,347 career points, 385 career rebounds and 389 career assists.