A Pip Off His Uncle’s Block

In 1987, an unknown forward out of a small college burst onto the NBA scene and wound up with six championship rings and a place among the top players of all time.

The Suns will open training camp next week with an unknown free agent forward from a small college who hopes that history and genetics are on his side.

William Pippen, nephew of Bulls forward Scottie Pippen, went undrafted after a four-year career at Middle Tennessee State University. He has been working out at AWA the last few weeks and has been invited to participate in the Suns’ training camp, which begins September 29.

William made dramatic progress his senior year at MTSU, leading the team with six rebounds a game while averaging 15.5 ppg. He helped propel the Blue Raiders to the finals of the Sun Belt Conference tournament last season, earning all-tournament team honors in the process.

Although a long shot to crack the Suns’ regular season roster, Pippen is grateful for the opportunity to see some preseason action and is looking at the next month as a valuable learning tool in helping him reach his ultimate goal of playing in the NBA.

“I feel that I have a great shot, at least in training camp, to bring something to this organization,” the 6-8 Arkansas native said. “From there, you never know. You just cross your fingers and hope that everything will work out.”

Genetics have more to do with his shot in Phoenix than his famous basketball surname. Like his Uncle Scottie, William has a long athletic body that can run the floor and shoot. So far, Head Coach Frank Johnson has been impressed with what he has seen.

“I like his abilities,” Johnson said. “I like his length, he’s a long guy that can play multiple positions.”

“He’s an interesting player in that he’s untapped as far as potential talent,” agreed assistant coach Phil Weber. “He’s not there yet but the potential is certainly there. He’s a good kid and a hard worker.”

It appears that some of the skills that made Scottie so successful in the league after the Bulls originally acquired him out of Central Arkansas in a draft-day trade 16 years ago, have rubbed off on his 20-year-old nephew, who recalls watching the Suns beat his uncle's Bulls in Phoenix years ago.

“We both see the floor well,” William said. “We’re able to look over the smaller guards that are guarding us and are just able to play smart when the game is on the line.”

The Suns are not the only team to have taken notice of William’s talent and long-term potential. He has worked out with the Harlem Globetrotters and could wind up on one of their rosters if he does not sign with the Suns or another NBA team for the upcoming season.

“I’m not really a showman,” he admitted. “I love watching them play, but now they have three different teams and I (would be) part of the competitive team that plays colleges and teams overseas. They go out and play hard and really get the job done. If working out with the Suns doesn’t lead to anything, of course I’d love to be a Globetrotter.”

Like Scottie, William is a forward who has the ability to bring the ball up the floor and get the offense going, but at this stage in his development, he is more than willing to do whatever it takes to make a big-league roster.

“I’m primarily a two or three,” he said, “but I do like to transition to play a little point guard, to distribute the ball. Anything the Suns need me to do, I’m at least willing to try and do it.”