Mark Humphrey/Associated Press
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Reid Travis needed to play one more year of college basketball.
A Stanford senior, Travis had been working out privately last spring in anticipation of the N.B.A. draft. But an invitation to the combine never came. A few teams had him work out, but the message was clear that he would not be among the N.B.A.’s precious 60 draft picks.
Six feet 8 inches and solid, but used to playing near the rim, Travis said he was told he needed to add another dimension to his game — “be more versatile, become a better passer, decrease turnovers, become more athletic.