Half-filipino Avery Scharer tries out for the NBA D-League

Another Fil-Am prospect

While Japeth Aguilar sat out injured, another Fil-Am prospect showed his skills in front of the Energy coaching staff.

Avery Scharer, a half-African American and half-Filipino, 6’ 2”, 185-pound point guard from Shoreline Community College in Washington nearly “scored a triple double” and added six steals, according to McGarry.

“The coaches thought he played pretty well,” said McGarry. “He is attracting a lot of attention in the Philippines and the Asian Basketball league.”

The 24-year-old Scharer, who was third in the nation dishing out assists last season, said he’s ready to show his game in front of NBA and NBA D-League scouts and coaches. Scharer declared early with two years of eligibility remaining only to be passed up in the recent NBA draft.

“It’s been tough. I think I didn’t get fair shake. I wasn’t able to get in on the proper [pre-draft] workouts or tryouts with any teams. I had no one speaking on my behalf… Now, I have an agent. They [NBA scouts and officials] can see me and see what I can do.”

Shoreline Community College Coach Adam Jose said Scharer is a natural leader and very coachable. Though some teams may be scared off because of Scharer’s age, Jose said Scharer uses age as his advantage on and off the court.

“He’s really mature and experience,” said Jose. “From my understanding, he’s a young father and took some time off to take care of his family after high school so when he came to me to play ball for us, I knew he was ready to play mentally and physically.”

“He was our leader. He was our captain… Some [professional] teams may just look at his resume and say that he only played ball at a community college but he’s so talented and so good. They have to see him on the court to see how good he is,” added Jose.

Scharer said if he doesn’t get drafted in next month’s NBA D-League draft, he’s already filed paperwork to possibly play in the Philippines. His mother is originally from Bauang, La Union, Philippines.

“Other than going to the NBA, the PBA would be a dream,” he said. “I’d like to go back and play in the motherland. I think I could do so much there… I’m a winner, I got the heart and drive to win. I just want to go out there and win. I would love that opportunity.”

via Aguilar suffers minor injury, held out of final D-League tryout.