GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Things have never come easy for Mike Glover.
The Bronx native was recruited to Seton Hall by former coach Bobby Gonzalez but never played a single game there because of eligibility issues.
He sued the Big East and the NCAA over his eligibility and then took a long, winding odyssey through several junior colleges before landing at Iona.
With his college career now over, Glover, the younger brother of former St. John’s standout Anthony Glover (now playing in Argentina), is unsure where he is headed next.
He likely won’t get drafted in the June 28 NBA Draft but hopes to wind up on a summer league roster and get a shot at the bright lights and big time of the NBA.
“[We will] cross our fingers,” the 6-foot-7 Glover said Tuesday following his workout with the Knicks. “If not, summer league will definitely be in effect. Just don’t know which team yet. But God willing, it will hopefully be the Knicks.”
One veteran NBA scout told SNY.tv that Glover will have to outwork other forwards in a summer league or camp setting in order to prove he can make it.
“Very competitive, tough kid, very good around the basket,” the scout said. “He’s going to have to fight his way into the NBA by really play well in the minor league level. Get on a summer league team, get in a camp and outplay a bigger name guy, a guy who’s rated higher than him. That’s his ticket.”
Glover wore a large bandage around his left hand following the workout, the result of an injury he hopes is not serious.
“I was doing a one-on-one drill trying to finish and attack the rim, I swiped down [and] it left me with a little bit of an injury,” Glover said. “I don’t think I’ll be out a couple weeks.”
Glover averaged 18.5 points and 9.0 rebounds last season as Iona won the MAAC regular season title, lost in the conference tournament semifinals and then received a surprising bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the play-in game to BYU.
Since then he’s worked out with the Brooklyn Nets and the Memphis Grizzlies and hopes his lunch-pail mentality will catch a team’s eye.
He said the Grizzlies told him he’s an undersized four man, similar to Carl Landry or Paul Millsap type.
“I’m trying to work on my perimeter game,” he said. “I’m doing that every day as we speak. My post game can only get better.”
He added: “Pretty much just be a beast, be a warrior, be that great rebounder that I’ve been for the last four years of my college career and give a positive attitude.”
Growing up in The Bronx, Glover said it was a dream come true to work out for the Knicks, who pick at No. 48 in the second round.
“Being from The Bronx, I’m blessed and fortunate to get this invitation to work out, especially [for] the Knicks itself,” Glover said. “It’s always good to listen to the former players that’s played here, like Iman Shumpert who’s like a role model and older brother. I speak to him throughout the season.”
Glover’s former Iona teammate, point guard Scott Machado, also worked out for the Knicks and is considered a second-round pick and potential future NBA backup.
“I spoke to Scott last night,” Glover said. “He’s in Portland right now. Scott has always been like a younger brother to me. We always criticize each other and make each other better. I love him to death.”
Glover referred to Iona coach Tim Cluess as a “father figure.
“To this day, I don’t there would be no other coach that coached me better than him,” Glover said.
He said he never thinks about what could have been under Gonzalez at Seton Hall.
“No, all that’s behind me now,” he said. “I don’t pretty much think of Seton Hall anymore. Everybody knows the story. I just want everyone to look at me as I’m an Iona graduate now and I’m off seeking my future in the game of basketball.”
Mostly, he is motivated by the need to provide for his girlfriend, Alissa Carter, and their 3-year-old son, Mike Jr.
“Even if it’s not [in the] NBA,” he said, “just playing this game of basketball and just provide for my family, I think that’s good enough for me.”
