Flashy suits, hopeful faces and anticipation of achieving a life dream fill the arena each year as NBA hopefuls wait to hear their names called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver in the NBA draft.
But, that was not the case for former UMBC star Jairus Lyles. Rather, Lyles decided to stay home on the night of the draft and work on his game.
It is that commitment to improvement that has put Lyles in the position that he is in today. Lyles has always been a gifted shooter, earning a three-star prospect rating when he graduated from high school. But, it took Lyles four years to transform himself into an all-around basketball player.
Throughout the 2017-2018 season, coach Ryan Odom routinely raved about Lyles’ growth as a player, particularly on defense. Lyles was able to set a career high in steals, and alongside fellow guard KJ Maura, they created the pesky defense that drove opponents crazy during the season, and allowed UMBC basketball to transform itself to a threat in the America East Conference.
But, as the 60 names called during the NBA draft found their way to the video board atop the stage in Brooklyn, New York a nervous feeling began to spread through the hopeful UMBC fans. As the Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, and Toronto Raptors all surpassed Jairus for their second round picks, Lyles’s future in the NBA looked bleak.
But, a few days after the draft, UMBC fans would rejoice as Lyles was invited by the Utah Jazz to play for their summer league team. After two decent games off of the bench in Utah, Lyles would travel with the team to Las Vegas for the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League. In his first game in Vegas, Lyles would score 11 points, displaying some of the scoring prowess that he demonstrated for two and a half years at UMBC.
Thanks in part to his dominant performance in that game, Lyles hit the jackpot, though it was a slightly different prize than most visitors of Sin City come to expect. The Jazz awarded Lyles for his performance with an NBA contract, making him the first UMBC basketball alumni to sign an NBA deal.
Per team policy, the Jazz did not release the details of the contract. But according to sources Lyles signed an Exhibit 10 contract. An Exhibit 10 contract is a deal that allows a player to participate in training camp with an NBA team. With this contract, players can earn up to $50,000 as a bonus for making it to a G-League team after training camp. After that, if the player stays in the G-League for 60-days, they become eligible for another bonus of up to $50,000. Teams can also change Exhibit 10 deals into two-way contracts if they find a players performance to be exceptional.
A two-way contract dictates a players salary based on what league they play in. For example, if Lyles were to play with the Jazz during the season, he would make more money than if he were playing for their G-League affiliate. During the 2017-2018 season, players with two-way contracts make $74,000 a year in the G-League, and $204,000 if they make the NBA roster for at least 45 days.
As an undersized Point-Guard, Lyles has already accomplished many things, but he will have to continue his uphill journey to become an NBA player. But the future is now in his hands.
]]>Name:Justine Cataneo
Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Inside Broadway
Position Title: Intern
Major(s)/Minor(s):BFA Acting
Work Term:Summer 2018
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
Every day I am involved in completing different tasks at my internship. I travel from Middletown, NJ to New York, NY on the train and go to 130 9th Avenue. When I come into the office, I am usually given a list of tasks. These tasks can include: delivering checks to actors and/or teaching artists, making Playbills for school programs, researching items for our silent/live auction. I also inventoried all of the items in our stockroom and created an Excel sheet of each individual item. This sheet was sent to every teaching artist so that when they need costumes, they can easily see what we have and what needs to be ordered. This saves Inside Broadway from having to continuously pay for items that they already have stocked.
One of the most exciting parts of my job are working at our Creating the Magic events. This summer, I was able to go to Chicago and Phantom of the Opera for these events. Each Creating the Magic involves busing students from each of the boroughs to Manhattan. The students see pieces of the show and learn about the backstage jobs involved in running a show. Usually, the stage manager, lighting operator, musicians, sound engineer come onstage and do a demonstration for the children that explains their job title. The actors perform 3-4 numbers from the show. Most of these students have never seen a Broadway show, been to a Broadway theatre or have even been to Manhattan!
My favorite part of these programs is seeing how excited all of the students get at each of the demonstrations. They sit on the edge of their seats and clap and cheer for the cast members. It is rewarding to see that all of the time, effort and money that goes into these programs makes thousands of children incredibly happy. I am usually lucky enough to receive a backstage tour of the theaters and meet the actors after their performance. I love being able to introduce myself to people in the industry and to start making making connections.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
When I was in high school, I interviewed for this position. One of the schools that my company works with is my father's school. My boss was speaking to my father about how they needed an intern and he recommended me. I submitted my resume and did a phone interview. This summer, I re-submitted my work and acting resumes. Since my boss had worked with me before and was pleased with my work, she hired me immediately for the summer.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
I have greatly enjoyed seeing children's reaction to theater and performance. When I go to schools and see elementary students singing and dancing for their community, it reminds me of the joy theatre brings to my life.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I am an organized and efficient worker. I think I relieved some stress off of my supervisors by always completing tasks in a sensible and timely matter. I was able to be given a list of tasks and each item would be crossed off and taken care of before I caught the train home.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
I would suggest making sure your internship is in your field of interest. Seek out companies who you would want to work for one day.
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