Like most recent college graduates, Eddie Gill and Harold Arceneaux are waiting to see if they'll have jobs in their chosen profession.
But unlike most of their classmates, these former Weber State basketball players are enduring what has to be one of the most public application processes there is — the NBA draft.
"It's exciting, wild," said Gill the point guard. "I didn't really know what to expect."
Arceneaux adds, "It's really hard. You don't know whether you'll have to move, if you'll go at all in the draft, or if you did enough in college to even make it (in the NBA)."
The two played together at College of Eastern Utah for a year and then two years at Weber State. Arceneaux was known as "The Show" and Gill as "The Thrill" to Weber's basketball fans. They were the heart of the Wildcats' team that stunned college basketball powerhouse North Carolina in the opening round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament, 76-74.
Both men are on the verge of a childhood dream that they now see as a real possibility. Once a high school dropout, Arceneaux toyed with the idea of declaring himself eligible for last summer's draft but withdrew his name and played his senior year. Gill said he began to believe in his ability near the end of his sophomore year.
Some might consider them longshots to be drafted because they attended a smaller, less visible school in Weber State, and their team had a disappointing year, not even making it back to the NCAA tournament. But both men have signed with agents and remain optimistic about their chances in the draft. Both participated in pre-draft camps in Chicago and Phoenix. Both have worked out for NBA teams.
The surprise may be that Gill, who always seemed to be in Arceneaux's shadow in college, has been invited to more workouts than his former teammate.
Gill worked out for Chicago last week and Vancouver earlier this week. He was scheduled to go to Sacramento a few days later. He works out for the Jazz on Monday.
"I feel pretty good about the way I did in the pre-draft camps," he said.
Gill led the camp's players in assists in Chicago. The most exciting part so far? "Trying out for the Bulls," he said. "I was pretty much awestruck when I walked into their arena. You see all the championship banners, you're sitting in the same locker rooms . . . I just try not to get nervous and do what's asked of me."
He felt good about how he did in the individual workouts as well. Gill remained in the Ogden area and married his college sweetheart last Saturday.
Arceneaux moved to Houston, where his agent lives, and has been working out daily with Denver Nuggets assistant coach John Lucas.
"It's been all right," Arceneaux said of his new, albeit temporary, hometown. "It was a little tougher than I thought (the workouts), but I'm used to it now. I don't really do much but work out."
He worked out for the Houston Rockets and felt that went very well.
"If they want me, I want them," he said. "I really don't have a main preference. I just want to play. I'll play anywhere."
The worst part, he says, is the waiting. Potential draftees have no idea how well or how bad the outlook really is.
"Everything is up in the air, besides the lottery picks," he said. "It's a wide-open draft."
He plans to spend draft day with his brother in the city where he grew up — New Orleans. If he's not drafted, he'll pursue a contract as a free agent.
"I want to try and find a team I can help," he said. "I'm versatile. I can play any style."
The only question left is whether he'll get the chance.
E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com