ST. LOUIS — Demetrius Alexander has circled the globe shooting hoops.
He played a couple seasons of junior college ball in Kansas, then two years at the University of Alabama. Professionally, he has toiled in Idaho and Israel, Atlanta and Italy, San Diego and Japan.
Tonight's locale, however, is much more special than all others. Tonight, Demetrius Alexander plays at home.
Alexander — a free-agent forward trying to win a roster spot with the Jazz — was named Missouri's Mr. Basketball as the state's top high school player in 1994.
He starred at suburban Hazelwood Central High in St. Louis, where this evening at the Savvis Center the Jazz — now 3-0 in the preseason — play an exhibition game against the Orlando Magic.
Alexander figures on having anywhere from 30 to 40 friends and relatives on hand and has been anxiously looking forward to seeing all of them.
"Every player feels good going back home and playing in his hometown, where his family can see him," he said. "That's big for me."
Alexander had no idea when he arrived at Utah's training camp, though, that the Jazz would be passing through St. Louis, a non-NBA city, during the preseason.
"A feel of joy just went through me that I get a chance to go home," he said of how he felt when he heard the news. "You know, St. Louis doesn't get many games."
In order to make it here, Alexander had to first survive the Jazz's first round of training camp cuts.
With strong performances vs. Dallas in Mexico City (eight points, three rebounds in 11 minutes) and vs. Seattle at the Delta Center (nine points, one rebound in 14 minutes), he did. Utah waived three players on Monday, and Alexander was not among them.
Next up: Making the regular-season roster. Alexander is a long shot, but he figures that as long as he is around, he stands a chance.
"I don't really have any doubts in my mind if I'll make this team or not," he said before playing nine scoreless minutes in Utah's win Tuesday over New York in Boise. "I just hope that I just go out every day and play the ball that I can play and show them that I'm good enough . . . and I can bring something to the table for this team.
"Whether that's defensively, offensively, chemistry or whatever it is — I just feel like I can go out and contribute something."
PERRIN STAYING: Jazz player personnel director Walt Perrin withdrew his name from consideration for the expansion Charlotte Bobcats' vacant general manager's job, the Jazz revealed Wednesday.
"Although I am pleased to have had the opportunity," Perrin said in a statement released by the Jazz, "further pursuit at this late date isn't wise with respect to my or the Jazz's best interest."
Bernie Bickerstaff apparently be the coach and general manager, sources tell the Associated Press.
CATCHING UP: Catching up with a couple former Jazz players . . .
Veteran Mark Jackson, John Stockton's backup at the point last season, is still seeking work.
"There are a lot of teams out there that have young point guards who are learning on the job," the 38-year-old told the New York Daily News. "If anyone wants to speed up the learning process, I think I can help.
"I don't have an ego," Jackson added. "I still love to play and believe I can contribute."
Forward Scott Padgett is in Portland's camp. He has no contract guarantees but hopes to win a roster-spot battle with Tracy Murray.
"I'm a pretty confident guy," Padgett told The Oregonian. "I feel like this is where I'm going to be, and until somebody tells me otherwise, I'm a Blazer."
E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com