Bill Koch

bkoch@enquirer.com

Sean Kilpatrick is finally getting his shot at the NBA.

The first-team All-American guard from the University of Cincinnati signed a partially guaranteed contract with the Golden State Warriors on Monday and reported to the Warriors training camp.

Kilpatrick, who led the American Athletic Conference in scoring last season with 20.6 points per game, was not drafted by an NBA team. He underwent knee surgery on Aug. 20, but his father, Sean Sr., said he is fully healed and moving better than he has in years.

The second-leading scorer in UC history won't have much time to prove himself. The Warriors have only two exhibition games remaining before they open their regular season on Oct. 29. One of those is Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.

If he doesn't make the Warriors' NBA roster out of training camp, Kilpatrick is expected to play for their D-League team in Santa Cruz, Calif.

The elder Kilpatrick said it took a long time for Kilpatrick to sign because his agent, Zach Kurtin of Chicago-based Priority Sports and Entertainment, wanted to make sure he found the right fit.

"They were just being very careful," Kilpatrick Sr. said. "They were looking at a spot where he would have a realistic chance."

Kilpatrick Sr. said his son signed with Golden State "because of what he brings to the table and the interest that they showed was second to none compared to a lot of teams we were talking to. Everything they said, that's what happened."

According to Kilpatrick Sr., his son never considered playing overseas despite a lucrative offer from an Italian team.

"He was very adamant," Kilpatrick Sr. said. "He was never deterred, never. You know where you belong."