Report: Former UK star Alex Poythress signing with Pacers

Former University of Kentucky basketball star Alex Poythress agreed to a partially guaranteed contract with the Indiana Pacers, according to Yahoo Sports sources.

Poythress went undrafted in June before playing for the Orlando Magic in NBA summer league.

He will participate in the Pacers’ training camp and likely end up playing a season for the franchise’s D-League team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Yahoo Sports reported.

Poythress was back in Lexington earlier this month for one of Kentucky’s basketball camps, and indicated then that he was working on a deal.

“A couple of (NBA) teams have called with training camp invites,” Poythress said. “I’m not sure I can say which teams because I haven’t signed nothing yet. But things are looking optimistic, so that’s good.”

Spending a season in the D-League — like former Cats Dakari Johnson and Andrew Harrison this past year — also sounded like an option he had considered.

“Aaron and Dakari, when we were down in Orlando (for the NBA summer league), we went out to get some bites to eat,” Poythress said. “They just told me it’s a long process, keep grinding, keep pushing, stay in the gym (and) be humble.”

Poythress averaged five points and 2.8 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per game for one of Orlando’s two summer squads.

“I’m going to be a defensive specialist coming in,” Poythress said earlier this month of what he thought could help him eventually earn a spot on an NBA roster. “If I can guard most positions (on the floor), that would be a good role for me.”

This story was originally published August 12, 2016 at 8:50 PM with the headline "Report: Former UK star Alex Poythress signing with Pacers."