Germantown native and former UW guard Zak Showalter enjoys workout with Bucks

ST. FRANCIS - Peering out onto the Milwaukee Bucks practice court from the wall of the Cousins Center, a sweaty Zak Showalter rattled off names like Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson and Ray Allen with ease.

A Germantown native, Showalter watched those former Milwaukee Bucks as a kid and relished the Bucks’ Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2001. In recent years, he’s witnessed the strides the organization has made.

And on Monday, he worked out for the hometown team.

“It was a pretty cool opportunity to be able to come out here and display my talents a little bit,” Showalter said. “I don’t get too nervous playing basketball at this point, but the hometown organization always brings a little extra out in you.”

After leading Germantown High School to a perfect 28-0 record and a WIAA Division I state championship as a senior, Showalter stayed close to home and walked on at Wisconsin.

He then received a scholarship and then became the “discount double check” man in March after a game-tying three-pointer against Florida in the NCAA Tournament.

Showalter is appreciative of his past success but not yet satisfied. He hopes to keep playing, find an NBA Summer League team to latch onto and possibly go overseas. 

Monday’s workout with the Bucks, which was his second workout for an NBA franchise (he worked out with the Chicago Bulls a few weeks ago), was a step to doing that.

Steve Showalter, Zak’s dad and former high school coach, said he’s known the workout would take place for about a month, which was exciting and "a little extra special."

Prior to the workouts, Zak spoke to his former UW teammates Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig and Vitto Brown.

Each player also worked out with the Bucks, so they discussed the setup and guarding particular guys (Isaac Hamilton of UCLA, Dominique Hawkins of Kentucky, Charles Cooke of Dayton, Blake Hamilton of Buffalo and Brynton Lemar also did drills Monday).

During Thursday’s NBA draft, Showalter said he’ll be rooting on his former teammates who have a better likelihood to get drafted.

Still, Showalter said he believes he’d bring heart to any organization.

“I think of a guy like (Matthew) Dellavedova. He has really made a name for himself,” Showalter said. “You just really have to find your niche and make the most of it, so if there’s a team that’s willing to take a gamble on me, I’ll be more than willing to give them my talents.”

Billy McKinney, the Milwaukee Bucks’ vice president of scouting, mentioned Showalter’s defensive tools, his ability to bring energy to the court and his having high character as pluses. He also disputed the negative that many think is Showalter’s size.

“One of the phrases I hear so much is this guy has an NBA body or he doesn’t have an NBA body, and I’m still trying to figure out what that looks like,” McKinney said.

“I don’t think it’s the size of the dog, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

McKinney added that Showalter could “probably” play in the NBA’s Gatorade League (formerly NBDL) — be it with the newly founded Wisconsin Herd or elsewhere — but that an opportunity like that is about being in the right place at the right time.

For the time being, Showalter is proud.

“To come back here and get a workout was pretty cool,” Showalter said. "I’m very fortunate to be in the position I am."