The day Reggie Bullock has waited for all his life is finally here.
Bullock is expected to receive a phone call from an NBA team, and then hear NBA Commissioner David Stern call his name on national television sometime tonight during the 2013 NBA Draft.
The 22-year-old Kinston native is on the verge of becoming just the sixth from here to be drafted by an NBA team, joining Cedric Maxwell (1977), Mitchell Wiggins (1983), Charles Shackleford (1988), Jerry Stackhouse (1995) and Herbert Hill (2007).
It wasn’t long ago that Bullock was working on his dream as a child at Holloway Recreation Center. Then came the recruiting process, and then came the commitment to UNC.
While in high school Bullock won virtually every award an individual could receive. Three years later he became a full-time starter for the Tar Heels.
Today, the child who wasn’t allowed to play in his middle school championship basketball game due to a dirty bedroom will see the fruits of his labor fulfilled.
“When I first saw him, in the sixth grade, it was because I wanted to go see the kid that everybody was talking about,” said Wells Gulledge, Bullock’s former high school coach. “From at an early age, you could really tell that he was a well-rounded kid in regards to the way he played, and also the way he carried himself.”
Gulledge remembers knowing how special Bullock was going to be before he ever donned the green and gold of Kinston High.
“There’s not very many kids that you can look at and say, ‘That guy’s going to be a pro.’ But at a very young age, you could tell that with Reggie,” Gulledge said.
There’s really no telling where Bullock could land. He’s been projected to go as high as the 19th overall pick of the first round to falling into the second round.
On the eve before the draft mock drafts at SI.com and NBADraft.net had Bullock going early in the second round. Two weeks ago both websites had the 6-foot-7, 200-pound wing as a first rounder.
Experts at DraftXpress.com gave Bullock the highest slot at 19th to the Cleveland Cavaliers, while one expert at CBSSports.com listed him going 21st to the Utah Jazz.
Only first round picks get guaranteed NBA contracts.
Regardless of where Bullock ends up, Gulledge simply wants to see his former player and student succeed.
“In a perfect world, in a perfect scenario, (we) certainly would like for him to go as high as he possibly can with a team that understands what type of player they’re getting and what type of person they are getting,” Gulledge said. “I hope that there’s some veterans there that will bring him along and continue to teach him the ways of the next level in regards to the lifestyle and how to keep your inner circle tight, how to really take care of your body and mind, and finances.”
Since declaring for the NBA draft in April — Bullock decided to pursue a professional career and not return to UNC for his senior season — the former McDonald’s All American and Gatorade N.C. Player of the Year in 2010 has been traveling abroad, auditioning for roughly half of the 30 NBA teams.
He left Atlanta to return to Kinston on Wednesday afternoon following a workout with the Hawks. On Tuesday he worked out for the Indiana Pacers, and on Monday auditioned for the Chicago Bulls.
Bullock will be in town today for the draft instead of in New York. After all, this is where his journey began.
“If you think of everything that’s ever gone down in Kinston, this kid’s getting ready to be drafted in the NBA draft and he chose to be here,” Gulledge said. “That says a lot about who Reggie Bullock is.”
Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com.
2013 NBA Draft
First round draft order for tonight’s NBA draft, which begins at 7 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN. Kinston’s Reggie Bullock is expected to be taken late in the first round.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Orlando Magic
3. Washington Wizards
4. Charlotte Bobcats
5. Phoenix Suns
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Portland Trail Blazers
11. Philadelphia 76ers
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
13. Dallas Mavericks
14. Utah Jazz
15. Milwaukee Bucks
16. Boston Celtics
17. Atlanta Hawks
18. Atlanta Hawks*
19. Cleveland Cavaliers*
20. Chicago Bulls
21. Utah Jazz*
22. Brooklyn Nets
23. Indiana Pacers
24. New York Knicks
25. Los Angeles Clippers
26. Minnesota Timberwolves*
27. Denver Nuggets
28. San Antonio Spurs
29. Oklahoma City Thunder
30. Phoenix Suns*
*—via trade