Roseville Coach Foresaw Mike Muscala as NBA Prospect

When Roseville native Mike Muscala walked away from last month's NBA draft as a second-round pick, that honor came as no surprise to his high school basketball coach. 
Bartt Pierce, Muscala's coach at Roseville Area High School, said he saw the young basketball player make major strides from his sophomore to senior years. During that time, Muscala grew from 6' 3" to 6' 9'' and he especially matured as a player between his junior and senor years, Pierce said. 
"Before his (Muscala's ) senior year, I told a couple of people that I thought that if he continued to grow and improve and get stronger, that he could play in the NBA," Pierce said in an interview with Roseville Patch.  
Muscala was a standout player at Roseville, graduating from high school in 2009. The following fall, he joined the basketball team at Bucknell University where emerged as a conference scoring leader.
Last month, the Dallas Mavericks drafted the 6-11 Muscala and then traded their second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks. 
"Every single year in high school and college he (Muscala) got exponentially better," said Pierce, who has known Muscala since he taught him seventh grade English at Roseville Area Middle School. 
As Muscala improved his basketball playing, he gained more confidence which, in turn, also boosted his play, Pierce said. 
Pierce said Muscala has all the right ingredients to be an NBA success: Humble. .  Tireless and hardworking. Intelligent. Coachable. 
"He (Mike) always listens to anyone and everyone," said Pierce, who has maintained regular contact with his young charge since he graduated from high school. "He really is the whole package. He is the best person I have ever known."
And what does he think of Muscala's odds of succeeding in the NBA? Pierce is predicting Muscala will have a career that will span at least 10 years. 
 
To read more stories about Mike Muscala, click on to these posts on Roseville Patch: 
Update: Atlanta Hawks Get Roseville Native Mike Muscala
Roseville's Mike Muscala Makes Minnesota Return

And here's what other media have written about Muscala:
Bucknell's Mike Muscala From Roseville to NBA? (Star Tribune)
NBA draft: Roseville' Mike Muscala heads Minnesota prospects  (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

 For Roseville news and information, _subscribe to our free newsletter.Also, like us on Facebook and follow us _on Twitter_