Miami Heat: SF Eric Griffin Gets Training Camp Invite

The Miami Heat have signed 6′8″ small forward Eric Griffin to their training camp roster. The 23-year-old forward spent two seasons at Campbell University and last season he averaged 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

Griffin averaged 6.4 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in 21.1 minutes for the Heat in the Summer League.

Griffin may have prematurely left college to pursue an NBA career and as things didn’t pan out for him in the Summer League, it looks like he’ll be waiting  another whole year until he gets a shot at it again.

However, this may come as a  blessing in disguise to this young man as this will give him some time to bulk up. Weighing in at 190 pounds, he needs to add at least 20 pounds  of muscle before he can even think about competing at the highest level.

A forward from Orlando, Fla., Griffin was named a first-team All-Big South Conference and NABC District 3 performer following his senior season. He averaged 16.8 points and 8.6 rebounds during 2011-12 for the Camels with a .610 field goal percentage. He ranked sixth in the nation in shooting and set a single-season school-record with 73 blocks. His .559 career field goal shooting is also a new school record.

In only two varsity seasons, Griffin finished third on Campbell’s career blocked shots (134) list. He produced 17 career double-doubles, including 12 as a senior. In addition, he was a semifinalist in both the ESPN Dunks of the Year competition and State Farm Dark Horse Dunker race.

After going undrafted in 2012, Griffin played a season overseas in Italy where he averaged 17.5 ppg and 7.1 rpg in 32 minutes per game for Fileni BPA Jesi.

It is unlikely that the Heat retain Griffin for the regular season. However, he may end up in the Heat’s D-League affiliate, Sioux Falls, for the 2013-14 season

He is an athletic wing who has explosive speed and jumping ability, as shown by this putback slam over Detroit’s Andre Drummond: