“I felt like I had a great year to get invited initially to the combine,” said McClellan, who played his first two college seasons at Texas and his final two at Miami, “and when I didn’t, I kind of felt disrespected.”

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McClellan, 23, was only summoned to the combine after another player had dropped out. Then in June, every NBA team with a draft pick passed on him.

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If he continues impressing the Wizards in what has been a promising preseason, however, he will likely fill one of three open roster spots.

McClellan scored 20 points in 32 minutes of action in the Wizards’ double-overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. Besides that performance, he has shown potential behind closed doors in practices.

“Like every player that comes into this league, he has a lot to learn about what we do and [how to] be able to do it consistently, but he’s had a good start to his pro career,” Wizards Coach Scott Brooks said. “He’s had a lot of good practices and a couple of good moments, or good games, and he’s played well, but it’s a long training camp. He still has to focus on being consistent with his habits, practice and game. But he’s played well.”

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The match of the Wizards and McClellan, a versatile 6-foot-6 guard, has been brewing for a while. The team scouted McClellan in college and from the time the draft process began, keeping a careful eye on his stock. Since the Wizards did not have a draft pick, they would either have had to make a deal to get into the second round to take McClellan or wait it out.

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“I do think there were draft-and-stash opportunities for him, but the Wizards had always expressed a high level of interest in him,” said Chris Caputo, Miami’s associate head coach. “We were in contact a good bit about him.

“It was like, if he went undrafted, then he was coming to Washington,” Caputo continued. “They made it clear they liked him.”

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As expected, immediately after the name of the 60th and final pick of the draft was called, McClellan received a text from his representation at Octagon.

“‘The Wizards are done!’” McClellan said, recalling the message. “I didn’t even talk to other teams, because we already knew that this was the right place for me and we already talked about that going in.”

Even so, after agreeing to a two-year, partially guaranteed deal, McClellan had to hold up his end. During his first professional experience, at the Las Vegas Summer League, he looked overwhelmed. In five games, he averaged just 2.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists. McClellan knew he had played like a guy who had gone undrafted.

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“Aw, man. Summer league, it was rough for me,” McClellan said. “My first time being away from college and playing with different guys, so it just took me a longer time to get adjusted, honestly. I know a lot of people didn’t see what they [saw in me] in college.”

McClellan decided to stay in Las Vegas to attend Tim Grgurich’s highly respected skills camp. Inside that gymnasium, McClellan and fellow Wizards rookie Danuel House took the challenge against several up-and-coming NBA players, including Kristaps Porzingis and Jordan Clarkson. McClellan also worked out some of his frustrations against the rookies who had been drafted over him earlier in the summer.

“We kind of took it personal that we didn’t get drafted and all those other guys did,” McClellan said of himself and House. “That really helped my confidence and helped me grow as a player.”

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Then, in August, McClellan swung by Los Angeles for the team’s mini-training camp. Again, he wanted to prove himself. So every time he saw John Wall handling the ball, McClellan dropped into a defensive stance. He did the same with Bradley Beal. McClellan continued this approach into his first NBA training camp, taking on his veteran teammates whenever possible.

“He’s not scared of anybody,” Wall said of McClellan. “He’s got a lot of heart. Anytime [we] play a one-on-one drill … he always calls out, like, me or Brad. He always wants to take on the challenge of guarding the best player. That’s something you don’t see too often from a rookie, not worrying about the scoring the ball but worrying about trying to guard the best player and that’s how you get yourself established in this league.”

McClellan recognizes that nothing is certain — NBA teams have until Oct. 24 to set their rosters and contracts are not guaranteed until Jan. 10. He knows he has to keep learning and growing; he points, for instance, to his attempt at a game-winner in Philadelphia, when he followed a strong blow-by move with a weak up-and-under layup that was blocked.

Still, McClellan said, “I feel like if I keep doing what I’m doing, I’ll be fine.”