Source: Philippine Star
Smart Gilas Pilipinas hopes to finally tap American Jared Homan as its candidate for naturalization in time for the team’s stint in the 21st FIBA-Asia Champions Cup in Doha, Qatar next month.
Smart Gilas’ Serbian coach Rajko Toroman said they’re close to getting the 6-10, 250-pound Homan, a former Iowa State standout currently playing for Maroussi in the Greek League.
“We hope we’ll make an agreement with Jared Homan to be our guy for naturalization,” said Toroman during their first practice since returning from their Serbian campaign at the Meralco gym Monday night.
“I was talking yesterday (Sunday) with him and I think he’s positive about our offer in the next 24 hours. We’ll see if we will make an agreement with him,” he said.
Homan played 125 games for Iowa State from 2001 to 2005, averaging 3.6 points on his first year before progressing to 7.1, 11.5, 13.6 points the following seasons.
He later suited up for Maroussi in Greece where he piled norms of seven points in 19 minutes and later played for ASCO Wroclaw where he had an impressive 17.7-point average in just about 25 minutes an outing.
“He’s (Homan) an excellent player. He’s playing in the Euro League in Greece. He’s playing on the highest level and he was very competitive. I think he’s kind of guy who can help us a lot,” said Toroman.
Smart Gilas earlier eyed the likes of talented imports Dwayne Jones, Brian Butch and Earl Barron, who have all joined NBA teams.
Jones, one of Toroman’s top choices, went to the Phoenix Suns while Butch and Barron, a former PBA import, wound up with the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks, respectively.
Even Greg Stiemsma, who was last in the team’s short list, ended up being picked up by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
If Smart Gilas and Homan come to terms, the latter is expected to join the Nationals in the Champions’ Cup this May in Doha where they hope to improve on the country’s fifth place finish in Jakarta last year.
The team also hopes to have Homan naturalized in time for this November’s Guangzhou Asian Games.
Smart Gilas is eyeing the top spot in the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship for a slot in the 2012 London Olympics.
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Jared Homan's 2009-2010 Euroleague Game Statistics (click here)
Professional Career: Was on the Washington Wizards’ 2007 summer league roster and tallied averages of 2.8 ppg and 2.8 rpg in five appearances … spent the 2006-07 season playing in Turkey for Mersin and averaged 13.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.0 apg in 22 games … played in 14 FIBA Europe Cup games for Maroussi Athens during the 2005-06 season and posted averages of 8.2 ppg and 3.6 rpg … competed in the 2005 Reebok NBA Summer League for the Sacramento Kings and the 2005 Southern California Summer Pro League for the Miami Heat.
College Career: Finished career as Iowa State’s all-time leader in blocks (235), which is the fifth-best total in Big 12 history … became the 23rd player in school history to score 1,000 points, finishing with 1,124 … ranks sixth all-time in rebounds (777) … as a senior in 2004-05, named Third-Team All-Big 12 and to the Big 12 All-Underrated Team after he averaged 13.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 2.10 bpg and was the only Cyclone to start all 31 games … in his junior season (2003-04), averaged 11.1 ppg , 6.3 rpg and 2.30 pbg and named to the Big 12's All-Improved Team and Second-Team Academic All-Big 12 member … named to First-Team Academic All-Big 12 selection as a sophomore (2002-03) after he averaged 7.5 ppg and 6.4 rpg … appeared in all 31 games as a freshman in 2001-02 and averaged 3.6 ppg and 3.4 rpg.
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