By By The Associated Press
WILSON — Anthony Atkinson knows how to put on a show.
The Barton College guard scored 10 points in the final 39 seconds of the Division II championship, and he hopes that flashy play will help him claim a spot on the Harlem Globetrotters’ roster. On Monday, the team invited Atkinson to an October tryout.
Atkinson hoped the late scoring flurry that made him a staple of television highlights and a legend on the Internet would prompt an NBA team to take a chance on him during last week’s draft.
Atkinson helped Barton rally from a seven-point deficit with 45 seconds left against a Winona State team that was on a two-year, 57-game winning streak. But Barton found a way, tying the game on Atkinson’s layup with seven seconds left, then winning when Bobby Buffaloe stole the ball at midcourt on the ensuing possession and found Atkinson for a layup that barely beat the horn.
In the seconds following the 77-75 win, Atkinson sprinted around the court holding his head in disbelief while teammates chased him the entire way.
Now Atkinson hopes his basketball future includes the Globetrotters. He was one of five players ‘‘drafted’’ by the world’s most famous team, which has a reputation for behind-the-back passes and flashy dunks.
The Globetrotters typically offer contracts to about 25 players, splitting the roster into multiple teams and touring the world. Contract information is not available, and Atkinson said pay has not been discussed.
Information from: The News &Observer, http://www.newsobserver.com