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Tyrell Biggs returned home to Nanuet late Tuesday night, jet-lagged and groggy from yet another day this month spent trekking through an airport.
"I was coming from Portland," Biggs said before catching himself. "No wait, I was actually in Memphis."
Forgive Biggs for not remembering for a moment. June has just been that kind of month.
Since graduating from Pitt this spring, the power forward has worked out for six NBA teams, most recently with the Grizzlies on Tuesday, in an attempt to draw last-minute interest before tonight's NBA draft. And yesterday, Biggs finally found time to relax.
"It's been tiring and there's been a lot of training," said Biggs, who spent time at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., preparing for the workouts. "Overall, it's been strenuous, but I'm hoping it will all be worth it."
Biggs is now in a holding pattern of his own. Odds are, he won't be among the 60 players drafted tonight at Madison Square Garden.
Like Geoff McDermott of New Rochelle and Chris Lowe of Mount Vernon, Biggs will have to wait until the hours after the draft for the next step of his basketball career to be determined.
McDermott, a forward who just graduated from Providence, and Lowe, a point guard who just graduated from UMass, each had final auditions in the past week. Lowe worked out with the Boston Celtics, as did McDermott, who also practiced for the Nets.
"It's pretty tough because you don't know where you're going to be next year," McDermott said. "It would be great to be drafted. But I'd love to make it on to a summer league team and sign as a free agent."
All three players expect to take that route, and potentially play overseas next season.
The 6-foot-8 Biggs was already invited to be a member of the Chicago Bulls' summer league team, if he's not drafted. He also worked out for Sacramento, Portland, Indiana and Oklahoma City.
Scouts love Biggs' lean 240-pound frame and are impressed with his skill and quickness. He made his strongest impression in Chicago, reportedly dominating North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough, a likely first-round pick.
"We were just going at it that day," said Biggs, who starred at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J. "I did well, I wouldn't say 'dominate.' We were both playing really well. I had a great workout that day. I was on."
Biggs averaged only 6.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last season for Pitt, which reached the Elite Eight. But he started and served as a solid complement to Dejuan Blair and Sam Young, forwards who are expected to be taken in the first round.
"A lot of people are saying they're surprised at the things I can do," Biggs said. "I didn't really get to showcase a lot in college being a role player. Now I get to show my whole arsenal, that I can shoot and pass, too."
McDermott worked out on Jan. 15, and practiced on Monday and Tuesday this week with the Celtics. Boston has one pick in the draft, the 58th.
At 6-8, 240, McDermott also has an NBA-ready body.
"The biggest thing with me is versatility," McDermott said. "I can play a couple of different positions. I can rebound, pass and do the things that people usually don't do; take charges, the little things. I think I can be a great fit for a team looking for a guy who does all of those things."
As a senior, McDermott averaged 8.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. A four-year starter, McDermott recorded 1,122 career points, the fourth-most rebounds in school history (1,055), the eighth-most assists (478) and fifth-most steals (205).
Lowe, too, set school records during his four seasons as a starter. He set the school record for career assists with 678, and is the first player in school history to record at least 1,000 points and 600 assists.
Both McDermott and Lowe were invited to compete in April's Portsmouth Invitational in Virginia, which is a pre-draft showcase of college seniors.
But even if none of the three hears his name called tonight, they have no plans to give up on their NBA dreams any time soon.
"I would have no problem playing overseas. The pay is good and living is great," Biggs said. "It's a different route. But, you know, everyone wants to play in the NBA."