Calling the Shots:

When Sean Nami found out about an opportunity to work out with professional athletes at his university he said he ran to his computer to sign up.

Nami, a 20-year-old third-year student who is studying political science at UC Irvine, didn’t want to pass up the chance to train with his favorite NBA player, Brandon Roy. As part of a special Nike training event to launch advertisement for a new shoe, the Portland Trail Blazers’ guard, along with NFL stars Adrian Peterson, Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald, as well as NBA big man Amare Stoudemire and Olympic gold medalist Bryan Clay were there as coaches Thursday at UCI.

Clay, a decathlete, and the pros mixed it up with the joes, a group of 50 UCI students. And there was yours truly too. For that first-person account, plus other news from the event, visit my blog at dailypilot.com/dailyblogger/svirgen.

The training session with the elite athletes was intense and memorable, especially for Nami and the UCI students.

“It was a straight dream, a dream come true,” said Nami, who found out about the event from his fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi. “One of these days, I’ll tell my grandkids I worked out with Amare, Adrian Peterson, Larry Fitzgerald, Troy Polamalu and Roy. Point blank. Period.”

Nami said he had to talk to Roy when he saw him.

“I’m a big NBA guy,” Nami said. “I just told Brandon Roy I drafted him. I picked him over LeBron.”

When Nami became exhausted during the workout, he said he looked at Roy to build confidence and find inspiration.

Gabriel Smithers, 20, a third-year student focusing on biology, had his game-face on as well, when it came to training with the pros. He was not as familiar with the star athletes, but he realized they were big-time from the way his friends were reacting to them.

“I was kind of intimidated by [the pros],” Smithers said. “But once I got to know them they were nice. They were very encouraging. I think I’m going to run and exercise more. This revitalized my zeal.”

With Clay on hand, the UCI track and field team got a special treat as the Anteaters were preparing for today’s Big West Conference Championships. The UCI track and field athletes were not allowed to be a part of the Nike event because of NCAA rules, but they gathered around Clay and the pros afterward.

Freddie Gladney, who competes in the 400 hurdles for the Anteaters, was thrilled to meet Clay. Gladney had Clay sign his shoe.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Gladney said about his special autograph. “I’m going to run in [the shoes today]. I’m going to run beastly times and then I’m going to hang them up.”

Gladney will soon be a roommate of Lee Darling, who competes in the 110 hurdles for UCI. Gladney told Darling with excitement that he would hang up the shoe on the their living room wall. Darling said the timing of Clay being at UCI was great, with the big meet today.

“We’re trying to do something big this year,” Darling said.

For the UCI students in the Nike training event, working out with the pros was big.

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at steve.virgen@latimes.com .