At last, Portsmouth native Vernon Macklin is in NBA

Detroit Pistons rookie Vernon Macklin was greeted by a familiar face when he stepped onto the court at Oklahoma City last week.

Macklin, a Portsmouth native who attended Norcom High, and Thunder star Kevin Durant crossed paths many times while playing AAU and high school basketball. Durant played his high school ball at Montrose Christian School (Md.) and Oak Hill Academy.

"We talked at half court and he asked me how I like the NBA," Macklin said last week by telephone. "I still remember how he and I used to compete back and forth in high school. Now he's an NBA star. It was kind of humbling."

Macklin, 25, is the only player from South Hampton Roads on an NBA roster these days after Maury grad and 16-year league veteran Joe Smith didn't re-sign with a team this season.

Macklin, a 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward, was the Pistons' second-round draft pick (52nd overall) in June. Along the way, he endured a winding road, from Norcom to prep school, then college stops at Georgetown and Florida. He also waited out the recent NBA lockout.

"I took a different path," Macklin said, "but I'm here and I'm making the best of it."

Macklin's dream of reaching the NBA has been seemingly distant for years.

As early as Macklin's freshman year at Norcom, there was talk that he would end up in the NBA - maybe even jump to the pros after high school.

Macklin played three seasons for the Greyhounds, but finished his prep career at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, earning McDonald's and Parade All-America honors.

He chose to attend Georgetown, but played behind future NBA players Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert. He transferred to Florida, and after sitting out a season because of the NCAA's transfer rule, started for two years and helped lead the Gators to the Elite Eight last season.

Macklin graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology and, eyeing a pro basketball career, he attended pre-draft workouts with Detroit, Indiana, Washington, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, Memphis and Boston.

Detroit team president Joe Dumars called Macklin a "warrior" during his workout there.

The Pistons made Macklin the first South Hampton Roads player selected in the NBA draft since Smith in 1995. But Macklin didn't celebrate long. Within a week of the draft,

the league announced that it would lock out players when their collective bargaining agreement expired.

"That was tough," said Macklin, who couldn't sign a contract because of the lockout. "You would talk to some guys and their thoughts on the lockout was that it may last all year. Then you talk to others who were positive and they thought it wouldn't last long. But it was tough for me and a lot of rookies."

Macklin knew he had to stay in top shape for when the lockout finally ended. He got involved in plenty of pick-up games, playing with, among others, Durant and Los Angeles Lakers teammates Matt Barnes and Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest). Macklin also did conditioning drills to stay sharp.

"I wanted to make sure that when the lockout ended that I was prepared," Macklin said. "And when I went to training camp, I was in great shape."

The lockout ended Dec. 8, and once in camp, Macklin received a rude welcome.

"When you come in the lane, you're going to get an elbow and get put on your (butt) to let you know that now you're in the big leagues," Macklin said, laughing. "They let you know that you're not in college anymore."

Macklin didn't play in the season opener at Indiana, but had his name called in the second game against Cleveland.

"I just tried to run over (to the scorer's table) as fast as I could before he changed his mind," Macklin said, referring to Pistons coach Lawrence Frank. "It was a great feeling. I was a little nervous, too. You just want to play well and not mess up so you get your name called again."

Macklin's first game also produced his first NBA points - a dunk.

"The Cavaliers just left me wide open underneath the basket," he said, "and Brandon (Knight) just threw me a good pass and I got a dunk."

Macklin has played in 11 games and is averaging four minutes and 1.4 points a game for Detroit, which is 4-17 this season.

His play has impressed his coaches.

"He comes in every off day for extra work and he understands what he needs to do to help our team," said Pistons assistant coach Charles Klask. "As long as he keeps working at his game, I don't see why he can't stay in the league.'

Macklin is earning nearly $475,000 this season, according to hoopsworld.com - far from the estimated $5.5 million his friend Durant is making as one of the NBA's top players.

But Macklin is happy to be getting a chance to pursue his NBA dream.

"I may not be at (Durant's) level," he said, "but I definitely think I can have a nice NBA career."

Larry Rubama, 757-446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com