Basketball doesn’t stop after the NBA draft. Players continue to find ways to play ball in a professional manner.

Grant Worsley of the American Basketball Association held a summer league game at Jackson Street Community Center Friday night. It was a chance for players to condition themselves as they continue to work on their careers.

There was a lot of raw talent in the building as former college players and current ABA players performed in front of scouts. Among the scouts in attendance was Lavell Johnson who scouts players in the Mississippi, southern Alabama and Louisiana areas.

“I’m looking for their raw talent, athleticism, skill and the ability to shoot the ball,” Johnson said. “Do they know how to play the game?”

What Johnson means by “how to play the game” is do they have a high basketball IQ. Can players think about the game, play off teammates and make the extra pass. Johnson looks to see if players can play in an offensive system or are they one-dimensional. He wants to see if a player is more concerned about his stats than helping the team win.

After watching 30 minutes of play Friday, Johnson said there are some guys who have a chance to play professional basketball overseas, like Jonathon Phelps and former University of Louisiana-Lafayette player Xavian Rimmer.

Johnson mentioned how talented the players in the game were and said they all want a chance to play basketball later, but they have to work to get there.

“All of them are talented but some of them depend on their talent so much,” Johnson said. “When you get to the next level everyone is talented. It comes down to who works the hardest.”

Rimmer was at Jackson Street to get back in shape after finishing his career with Louisiana-Lafayette. Rimmer does have plans to play overseas and has looked at playing in Greece.

Playing in the summer league has helped Rimmer with individual skills.

“The pace of the game, getting up and down the court, coming off fast breaks and using my strength to get to the basket,” Rimmer said.

He used criticism of not being a division one player as motivation coming out of middle school. The Sun Belt champion used his strength to his advantage playing. He forced his way in the lane, handled the ball well and was not afraid to take contact to finish for a layup.

Rimmer advises kids looking to play basketball at the next level to stay humble, continue grinding and love the game.

Worsley said he was surprised while watching the game Friday. He saw players who played at a high level.

“This is one of the reasons I do the camp,” Worsley said. “To see guys who are hungry, pick up talent for the showboats and work with guys who are getting better.”

Worsley was excited to have five former division one players come out and play. Those players were Rimmer, Dundrecous Nelson of Ole Miss and Jackson State, Tradarius McPherson of University of New Orleans, Will Werner of Southeast Lousiana and Darius Rice of the University of Miami.

There is only so much exercise and running on treadmills a player can do before a player can see if he is in playing shape and can get up and down the court, get back on defense and score.

“Sometimes you can think you’re in shape but when you when you have to run up and down the court and you’re trailing someone, it’s more mental,” Worsley said. “You can work out everyday but when you get on the court there may be guys in better shape than you and that shows where you have to pick up.”