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HoopsHype.com Pre-Draft Camp Chicago:
Day Four
The Moody Bible gym was quiet, tired and had very little atmosphere Friday. There was still some talent to be found, though, we just had to look a little harder for it this time. The final two games were televised on ESPNU, and it's a bit of a shame for the public to see this with their own eyes when just two and three days ago the gym was packed to capacity and almost beyond. Regardless, there were still some good basketball being played – especially the second game which had a fantastic pace to it. GAME 1 / TEAM 3 - TEAM 2 (102-97) TEAM 3 - Sharrod Ford: 17 points, 5/7 shooting, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks – After a quiet first two games, Ford really broke out in his final game. He was everywhere, showing nice athleticism in the open floor, blocking shots, and converting on post moves. Ford looked significantly more active than he had in previous games. One other thing to mention is that his measurements were disappointing, as he measured just 6-8 1/4 in shoes and weighs just 213 pounds. He may have some trouble playing power forward in the league at that size. - Tre Simmons: 24 points, 9/17 shooting, 7 rebounds, 3 assists – Simmons had a second straight big game offensively. He hit the three-pointer, passed the ball well, and generally looked comfortable with the ball in his hands. He isn't a great athlete, though the term "smooth" can definitely be used to describe him. Simmons may end up being able to carve out a spot in the league as a spot-up shooter. - Dijon Thompson: 18 points, 8/15 shooting, 3 rebounds – Thompson really showed off his midrange game all throughout camp, knocking down collegiate three pointers as if they were layups. The smooth wing did not really stand out in any other area of the game, but definitely showed the ability to create his own shot and consistently put points on the board at the next level. It's a shame that he won't put the ball on the floor more and take the ball to the basket, or use his height and length to rebound or play defense, because otherwise he would be a lock to make the league next year. TEAM 4 - Sean Banks: 13 points, 6/12 shooting, 4 rebounds, 2 steals – Banks continued his solid play in the final day of the camp. He was able to show us that he can take the ball to the basket effectively, something we had not seen earlier before Friday. Instead of doing his norm and settling for contested outside jumpers, he drove to the rack nearly every time he had the ball in hands and usually made something good happen when doing so. Banks had possibly the play of the day. He grabbed a rebound, took the ball the length of the floor, took off from 8-10 feet away from the basket, and dunked the ball with authority over an opposing player. Aside from that dunk, he showed the ability to break down opposing small forwards off the dribble with an impressive first step and decent ballhandling skills for a small forward. Banks also played surprisingly good defense, locking whoever he was guarding down and reading the passing lanes well. If he is able to keep this up in his private workouts, teams picking in the bottom of the first round will have to give him some consideration due to his immense talent. - Chris Thomas: 6 points, 3/6 shooting, 9 assists, 4 turnovers – Thomas really didn't do anything that really jumped out at you, but used his body really well and found open teammates in scoring positions. When the boxscore was released, it was really surprising that he finished with nine assists considering that we probably only noticed two or three of them. There are still many concerns surrounding Thomas and his ability to actually run a team, but this was by far his best game of the camp and if he can keep it up, he has a shot of making a roster come this winter. The hesitation he shows in his decision-making is the main thing that will have to improve for him to have any shot at being a successful point guard in the NBA. GRAHAM BROTHERS WORKOUT
The first thing that bystanders noticed walking by the MultiPlex gym in Chicago were two 6-7 twins built like NFL linebackers, who seemed to be playing the wrong sport. Once you saw them with the ball in their hands, one realized that the brothers were indeed involved in the right sport. In the aforementioned ballhandling drills, Joey showed a noticeable improvement in his dribbling ability from when he was at Oklahoma State. While he did not have quite the handle of his brother Stevie, he did a pretty good job in the cone drills in front of NBA scouts from four teams picking in the range in which he is projected on being picked. Joey still possesses the same low release point on his shot with little lift, but he made absolutely everything within 18 feet of the basket. As he stepped out to the collegiate three-point line and beyond, he continued to show the ability to knock it down, just not at the amazing clip in which he was netting his mid-range jumpers. Joey then had to knock down as many three-pointers as he could within a 90-second time frame from the top of the key. He started 15/20, but then seemed to tire and finished 20/33. The reason that Graham was not as prolific as the drill went on was his lack of legs in his jump shot, which virtually forces him to shoot the ball only with his arms. If he is able to consistently get more lift into his shot, Joey can develop into a threat from beyond the NBA three-point line as well this year. Next up was the one-on-one duel of the brothers, which actually resulted in a draw. Joey showed a really nice first step, ripped the ball through very quickly into his moves, and did an amazing job creating space on his step-back jump shot. It was clear to anyone in the gym that Graham will be able to step in and contribute to a team immediately as a power small forward in the Ron Artest mold with his chiseled physique, great defense, and emerging perimeter game. With that said, it was actually his brother Stevie who stole the show here. Numerous times we had to make sure that we weren't getting the twins confused, because Stevie was actually outplaying his brother for the first two thirds of the workout, and in times it wasn't even close. We weren't trying to look too hard or anything, but the huge letters in an Eastern Conference coach's scouting notebook basically told us all we needed to know: "STEVIE OR JOEY?" referring obviously to the question of which of the two is better. The rumblings coming from other teams in attendance told the same. It wasn't that Joey played badly, it was just that his brother was outstanding, surprising everyone in attendance. He showed a much better perimeter game and showed the ability to create his own shot and pull up from mid-range jumpers with ease. He has a certain smoothness to his game that will probably make his brother Joey an All-Star once he acquires some of the same. His physique is extremely impressive and his athleticism more than you can ask for. Even though Stevie didn't shoot the ball great in the 90-second shooting drills, he was excellent in the perimeter shooting department in almost every other part of the drill. After watching him play twice over the past week in workouts, it's time to go beyond what everyone else was saying in the gym about how in the world did he not get invited to Chicago and start thinking about the very real possibility of him getting drafted and making a team. GAME 2 / TEAM 1 - TEAM 6 (95-72) TEAM 1 - John Gilchrist: 4 points, 2/6 shooting, 3 rebounds, 6 assists – It wasn't a big offensive performance for Gilchrist, but he still managed to make a big impact on the game. He was dynamite in the open floor, and created offense for his teammates on numerous occasions. Nonetheless, he could once again be seen arguing with teammate Ellis Myles after he took a quick three-pointer. The buzz in the gym was still about Gilchrist's selfishness, and not his play on the floor. - Brandon Rush: 9 points, 4/7 shooting, 3 rebounds – Rush has had better stat lines at this camp, but he never looked more fluid and confident than he did in this game. Despite being the youngest player at this camp at only 19, he is already infinitely more skilled offensively than almost every shooting guard that can be found here. Rush was feeling it in one particular five-minute stretch, scoring baskets on NBA caliber moves after creating his own shot, and came down the floor once and threw one of the nastiest crossovers we've seen all week long before elevating for a shot. He missed, but it was just an example of what an incredible upside kid has when compared with practically anyone else at this camp. Any NBA GM in his right mind would offer him a two-year guaranteed contract in the second round to stay in the draft. In two years, we are talking about a guy who would probably go in the lottery. It can't be stressed just how impressive it is for a kid this age to come in and outplay players who are three or four years older than him at a camp where everyone is fighting for their life. - David Lee: 20 points 8/10 shooting, 7 rebounds, 2 assists – The top performance of the day belonged to David Lee without a doubt. Lee showed off his entire arsenal of skills Friday for every minute that he was on the court, making unbelievable passes, taking the ball strong off the dribble right at the hoop with his quickness, running the floor like a mad man and rebounding in traffic like a pro. He showed great footwork in the paint to back his man down and score with a finesse move and finish, and came up with a number of emphatic dunks after moving off the ball intelligently. Lee then proceeded to tear the scouting report to shreds by nailing a jumper from mid-range and then taking a rebound coast to coast for a one-handed dunk. It's debatable whether there is anything more that he could have done to impress the scouts in the stands. This is the David Lee that everyone was expecting to see when he accepted his invite to Chicago. He came through in a big way for himself, and probably solidified himself a spot in the first round in the process. TEAM 6 - Rawle Marshall: 13 points, 6/14 shooting, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block – Although his numbers may not jump out at you, Marshall's game resembles that of an NBA player more then anyone in camp. He is long, active, and just has a certain smoothness to his game that words really cannot describe. Marshall scored on athletic dribble drives to the basket as well outside jump shots off of the dribble. He has all the tools to be a very solid player in the league. - Steven Smith: 12 points, 5/9 shooting, 5 rebounds – Another very nice game from Steven Smith, who solidified himself as one of the biggest finds of this camp for those who hadn't seen him before. Smith showed his versatile skills once again on the offensive end, scoring both around the basket and from the perimeter, using his combination of smarts, strength and ballhandling skills to score, but playing extremely unselfishly and always with the right attitude. After three extremely productive seasons on college, it's unclear how much Smith has to prove by coming back for a fourth. Breaking his way into the first round this year could be tough, but some NBA team would be very wise to offer him a contract in the beginning of the second round if they are looking for an all-around player who has lots of skills and a big upside to improve. GAME 3 / TEAM 4 - TEAM 5 (73-71) TEAM 4 - Dwayne Jones: Jones is one of the nicer surprises of this camp, and he once again impressed scouts with his rugged play and excellent athletic ability. What separates Jones from other athletic big men at this camp like Deji Akindele and Pops Mensah-Bonsu is the fact that he sticks to his strengths and does a good job at minimizing mistakes. Jones likes to stick around the paint area and does a good job setting screens and climbing the ladder for athletic offensive rebounds. Defensively, he is a legit shot-blocking threat, but still needs to work on his man-to-man defense. All in all, Jones seems to be a very similar to Dan Gadzuric, but would also probably see himself drafted in the second round should he decide to stay in the draft. With another good season, there is no reason to believe that Jones won't be able to legitimately work his way into the first round as long as he continues to work on his skill level. - Mindaugas Katelynas: After two horrendous games earlier in the camp, Katelynas finally woke up and managed to have himself a halfway decent game. His shot was falling for once, and he didn't force the issue too much by jacking up bad shots out of the context of the offense as he had done here in the past. The best thing for Katelynas was the fact that he did a better job showing off his outstanding athletic ability, which is basically the only reason he is really considered a prospect right now. Katelynas went inside the paint and skied for a couple of very nice rebounds, and even managed to play some decent defense on the other end. This camp did not treat Katelynas very well, and he has probably seen his stock fall because of how much farther away from being a legit wing player he appeared to be. With that said, he still has quite a bit of upside and therefore should be considered by teams drafting in the second half of the second round who are looking to draft someone and stash them overseas. - Aaron Miles: Miles continues to run his team with the steadiness of a 10-year veteran, makes great decisions, and plays with complete disregard for his final stat line – which is a rarity at a camp like this. He had another very solid game, not knocking anyone's socks off but also not really making too many mistakes. The way he has shot the ball from beyond the arc in drills here should really give people confidence in the fact that his 50 percent shooting percentage this year from three-point land was not a fluke. Miles has everything the NBA looks for in an backup point guard. The only question now is which team will be smart enough to nab him in the second round. TEAM 5 - Robert Whaley: Whaley finished off the camp on a strong note, showing off amazing touch for a player of his size. At 6-9 and 269 lbs., he possesses absolutely striking athleticism and quickness for a player of his stature. Robert nailed a few turnaround jump shots out of the post and had no problem facing his man up and shooting over him. He also did a great job running the floor, usually being the first player at each end on every possession. Once thought of as the top high school player in the country, one can obviously tell that Whaley has very good talent, but he has had some character problems that have held him back. If a team is sold on those issues being a part of the past and will not reappear, we might very well hear the name Robert Whaley called on draft night. Based on the numerous conversations we had with him over the course of the camp, he seems to be a fairly intelligent kid who has his head screwed on in the right place. - Sharrod Ford: The Clemson grad finished off his camp strong in his second game of the day, being extremely active on both ends of the floor and rebounding the ball well. Although a bit undersized (6-8 1/4 with shoes) and skinny (212 lbs.) for a power forward, Ford makes up for his lack of size with a nice wingspan (7-1 1/4) and athleticism. Ford really did a little of everything on the floor Friday, shooting the ball well from outside, blocking shots, passing the ball well, and throwing down one very impressive dunk on a helpless defender. While we do not see him being drafted, many of our friends who work with international teams see him being an excellent player overseas. NBA teams will have to keep close tabs on this guy regardless of what happens with him. - Luther Head: This definitely wasn't his best game of the camp, but Head still managed to make his presence felt when his jumper wasn't falling, as he did many times this year playing for one of the best teams in the country in Illinois. Head did another solid job on the defensive end and made a number of very nice passes to his teammates, never forcing the issue and always playing to his strengths. He has everything you look for in an NBA combo guard, including very good athletic ability, strength, an outstanding perimeter shot, the hands and feet to guard both 1s and 2s and the right attitude to move the ball around and find open teammates. In the right system, this player will absolutely flourish. And it wouldn't be a stretch to say that he can even be a point guard eventually if his ballhandling improves a bit. He is really lacking experience in this area, but shows enough potential in other skills to make teams forget about that. Chicago:
Day Three GAME 1 / TEAM 1 - TEAM 4 (88-79) TEAM 1
- Brandon Rush: 10 points, 4/8 shooting, 3 steals, 3 blocks, 4 turnovers – While Rush's offensive explosion in the second half of his first game didn't carry over into Thursday, he still managed to show some very impressive raw skills. His shot wasn't falling, but he did hit an impressive spinning jumper. He is a truly exceptional athlete, and this is most obvious in the surprising number of blocked shots he has registered thus far at the camp. Players just don't expect him to make up so much ground so quickly, and several of Rush's blocks would make the camp highlight reel, if one existed. - Eddie Basden: 13 points, 5/12 shooting, 4 steals – After a somewhat disappointing first couple of days in Chicago, Basden is finally making believers. Not insignificant is his officially measured height of 6-5 1/2 in shoes, which helps him in his quest to become a defensive specialist in the NBA. His shot isn't there yet, but it has definitely improved, and he even hit a three-pointer from the top of the key Thursday. Basden gets high marks for his overall physicality, and his ability to slash. While he spent most of the day guarding bigger combo forward types, Basden continues to come up with a lot of steals. Based on his performance throughout the camp, it looks like a second-round selection is in the cards. - David Lee: 8 points, 2/2 shooting, 2 rebounds – It was a bit of a disappointing day for David Lee, who might be regretting his decision to attend the camp considering the way it has panned out so far. He isn't getting his touches on the offensive end, despite shooting 100 percent from the field and the free-throw line, and ended up looking very out of it mentally. He still has time to put in a highlight performance, but he'll have to do a much better job of demanding the ball down low and especially going after every single rebound that is even remotely in his area. He was slowed Thursday by a minor knee injury that kept him out of the combines, so that might have had at least something to do with that. TEAM 4 - Travis Diener: 4 points, 2/6 shooting, 4 assists, 1 turnover (8 points, 2/7 shooting, 5 assists, 2 turnovers) – Travis Diener continued his excellent play from Day One, and even got to play in an extra game as Dee Brown's replacement. Diener didn't shoot the ball like he did Wednesday, but it was quite apparent that those in attendance weren't really concerned about that. Diener is proving to be the best pure floor general at the camp, and something positive seems to happen every time he touches the ball. His creative passing and scrappy attitude are causing his stock to skyrocket, and it now looks like Diener is about as much of lock to get drafted as he's ever been in his career so far. - Dwayne Jones: 10 points, 3/4 shooting, 4 rebounds, 1 block – Jones impressed in the early game with several highlight plays, including a couple of rim rattling dunks and an emphatic blocked shot. While Jones' offense remains somewhat raw, it is becoming evident that he has many athletic tools that the scouts love. He would have better luck in next year's draft if he returned to Saint Joseph's and polished up his offensive skills, but his stock is definitely on the rise. - Aaron Miles: 2 points, 0/3 shooting, 7 assists, 3 turnovers, 4 steals – It was the same Aaron Miles we were used to seeing at Kansas, as he showed fantastic, physical defense, solid floor leadership, and got to the basket several times (even though he couldn't get a shot to go down). Miles continues to show improved shooting touch in the drills, converting on 7 of 10 NBA three-point attempts. AFTERNOON WORKOUTS AT MOODY BIBLE
Despite the fact that this was a workout intended solely to display his strengths, all Andriuskevicius showed were weaknesses and some ability to inconsistently knock down the NBA three-pointer. Andriuskevicius probably will end up withdrawing from the draft, as we doubt any team would give him a lottery promise after Thursday's workout. It was a highly entertaining workout – but for all of the wrong reasons. Jan Jagla deserved props for bulking. He looked to be about 25 pounds heavier than he was at Penn State. He's obviously not a great athlete, but the difference between him and Andriuskevicius isn't as far off as you might think. - Rudy Fernandez: Next up in the afternoon workouts was the Spanish guard. Toney Douglas, Torin Francis, and Jermareo Davidson also participated. Fernandez showed off smooth athleticism and a nice jumper in some non-competitive drills, before getting down to business in some two-on-two action. Fernandez doesn't have the quickest first step in the world and is still a bit thin, and this showed up in the competitive drills. He wasn't able to dominate offensively the way that a potential mid-first-rounder should have been able to against this type of competition. However, it's very possible that Fernandez's game is more suited for a more team-oriented setting. This workout was more of a mixed bag than anything else. - Ersan Ilyasova: The final individual workout at Moody Bible, run by trainer Idan Ravin, featured Ersan Ilyasova, one of the more underexposed players in this draft. His workout was an individual one, so we weren't able to see how he stacks up in a competitive setting. However, nearly everything that he was able to show off was quite impressive. He shoots the ball very naturally, even if his release is a bit unorthodox. He hit approximately 60 percent of his shots from the college three-point line, and this percentage didn't change throughout the workout, even after 45 minutes of moving around on the court. While he is far from impressive NBA-ready physically, Ilyasova has a solid frame, and it looks like he is headed in the right direction strength-wise. He looked smooth putting the ball on the floor, but probably needs to get a bit more explosive if wants to become a full-time wing. The questions about his true age and injury concerns remained unanswered, though, as did the questions about his athleticism and ability to create off the dribble. We still need to see more of Ilyasova in a competitive environment, but he certainly showed some encouraging signs Thursday. Whether or not that is enough to guarantee him a spot in the first round – considering his complete lack of experience at the senior level – is anyone's guess. Seeing him workout in a real basketball environment might have helped him more. - Hakim Warrick vs. Danny Granger: While the Fernandez and Ilyasova workouts were going on at Moody Bible, a large chunk of NBA executives made the short trek over to the Lake Shore Athletic club to take in a highly competitive workout between two potential lottery prospects in Danny Granger and Hakim Warrick. The two promising forwards were joined by Jay Straight from Wyoming and Paul Marigney from St. Mary's. The workout started off with a variety of different shooting drills in which Granger looked extremely impressive, showing off a much better three-point shot than you may have expected. At one point, he hit 12 NBA threes in a row, doing it with a high and quick release and good elevation on his shot. Granger has a super soft touch off the glass which he uses to bank shot after shot from the mid-range area. The whole experience looked quite effortless for the very smooth Granger. Warrick, on the other hand, shot the ball pretty well considering that this is considered one of his biggest weaknesses at the moment. With that said, he has odd mechanics, particularly his inconsistent release point, wasted motion, and the fact that he kicks his leg out while releasing his shot. Compared with Granger, Warrick's jump shot looks very violent and not very natural. He still did a decent job here in the shooting drills. After the drills, the players went into a one-on-one matchup where the are asked to start from the opposite three-point line and take the ball full speed at his opponent on the way to the basket. Warrick looked outstanding in this drill, thanks to his superb athletic ability and what appeared to be a slightly improved handle. In one sequence, he took the ball at Granger at full speed, and then pulled up with a sharp crossover before elevating for a sweet mid-range shot. Any player would have a tough time keeping up with Warrick's speed and tenacity, and Granger is no exception here. We started to wonder about Granger's lateral quickness at this point, as he was beaten numerous times off the dribble and had a very tough time staying in front of his man. On the other end, Granger seemed to settle a bit too much for pull-up jump shots, which he did not hit at anywhere close to as good of a rate as he did in the one-on-zero drills. He looked a bit soft and not as focused here as he did previously in the workout, letting Warrick get into his head a bit, and being noticeably bothered by his superb length.
All in all, this was definitely the most competitive and insightful workout we've seen so far this week, with a lot to be learned about both players' strengths and weaknesses. We think this matchup ended up as a draw, but every NBA team in attendance will draw their own conclusions and will decide which prospect better suits their needs. It should be noted that Paul Marigney was a pleasant surprise thanks to his outstanding athletic ability. He is quick and explosive and showed a pretty nice touch from outside as well. He would be a great prospect if he was 6-foot-6 rather than 6-foot-3, but due to his lack of height he will have to make the transition to the point if he has any NBA aspirations. This workout did not give us much of an idea about how far along he is in that aspect of his game. GAME 2 / TEAM 5 - TEAM 2 (97-81) TEAM 5 - Luther Head: 21 points, 8/11 shooting, 4/5 3-pointers, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, 1 turnover – Day Three of the camp belonged to Luther Head, as he put in what was probably the most dominant performance so far. A flurry of three-pointers midway through the second half gave him the great stat line, but Head excelled throughout the game. He showed lock-down defensive ability, quick hands in the passing lanes, terrific shooting ability, and good vision on the break. He didn't play much point guard, but did manage to show a bit of potential as a floor general when he had the ball in his hands. It is very obvious that even if he doesn't have the experience to be considered a natural point guard, he looks more than capable of defending the point guard position. Based on Head's performance in the camp thus far, we feel he is one of the few prospects in Chicago that has a legit shot in the first round. Head compares very favorably to last year's Chicago invitee and eventual first rounder Delonte West. In fact, he is probably better that West in nearly every facet of the game. - Mike Bell: 17 points, 7/11 shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 turnovers – Bell did his best to disprove his reputation as a soft player. He didn't fade to the perimeter and was very active in the paint. He showed a lot of emotion, and finally appeared capable of cashing in on the potential that he has shown in the past. Bell scored in a variety of ways, and continues to display a nasty combination of length and athleticism. One knock on Bell is that he has the tendency to get down on himself and disappear if he gets off to a slow start. On Thursday, he started off strong, and built on that throughout the game. - Robert Whaley: 12 points, 6/10 shooting, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks – In one of the biggest shocks of the camp thus far, Robert Whaley seems to be getting better and better by the day. He was dominant in the morning drills, scoring at will against whoever attempted to guard him in the one-on-one section. This carried over into the game, as Whaley was effective doing a variety of things – whether it was scoring in the post using a combination of quickness and strength, beating his man down the floor, or showing off soft touch from the perimeter. His defensive mentality remains a question mark, but the major issue here remains how NBA teams will react to his troubled past. If the draft was based solely on Chicago camp performance, Whaley would be worthy of a draft pick. - Jawad Williams: 12 points, 1/7 shooting, 9/10 free throws, 1 rebound – Williams has to rank as one of the most disappointing players in this camp, and he just hasn't been able to get anything going. His shot is ice cold, and he still looks out of place on the perimeter as a wing and down low as a power forward. He still seems to be forcing the issue quite a bit. Williams did seem to shake off the mental frustration and put in a better effort Thursday, but it just wasn't his day yet again. TEAM 2 - Drago Pasalic: 13 points, 4/9 shooting, 13 rebounds - Pasalic was able to take advantage of his team's lack of big men, posting the camp's only double-double thus far. Although he continues to put up decent numbers, Drago has not impressed us with any one facet of his game. - Sean Banks: 10 points, 2/9 shooting, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, 3 turnovers – After an impressive performance in Wednesday's game, Banks did not capitalize on his momentum and reverted back to his old style of play – which includes making one good play followed by a horrible one, hanging out on the perimeter too much, taking poor shots, and not giving solid effort. GAME 3 / TEAM 6 - TEAM 3 (109-92) TEAM 6 - Will Bynum: 11 points, 4/5 shooting, 2 assists, 2 turnovers – The diminutive point guard continued to help himself throughout the camp showing scouts that he is able to consistently score, whether he plays on or off the ball. While Bynum did not have quite the performance that he had over the previous two days, he still showed a great combination of explosiveness and strength, and was very reminiscent of Nate Robinson. - Steven Smith: 23 points, 9/14 shooting, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks – Smith was one of the best players in the camp Thursday. He was able to show the ability to legitimately play small forward, doing a lot of different things on the floor. Steven was very smooth, shot the ball well, and showed good athleticism for a small forward prospect. - Pops Mensah-Bonsu: 13 points, 4/7 shooting, 2 rebounds – Mensah-Bonsu is clearly one of the top athletes at the camp, but showed very little in terms of actual knowledge for the game or basketball skill. He has the combination of size, athleticism, and heart that scouts dream of in a power forward prospect, but could really use another year of college to hone his all-around game. - Rawle Marshall: 13 points, 4/9 shooting, 3 rebounds, 3 assists – Rawle continued to show a lot of NBA potential, playing impressive defense and using his great length to disrupt opposing players. He showed a wide variety of pro moves throughout the day, handling the ball well, nailing sweet pull-up jumpshots off of the dribble, and boasting top level athleticism. - Ronny Turiaf: 8 points, 4/6 shooting, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks – Turiaf showed us the exact same thing that he showed us all week, just not at the same clip that he had over the previous two days. He still blocked shots, scored from the post, and rebounded the ball well, but did not have quite the same intensity or motor that he had in his other games. It would only take one 20-point game for him to solidify himself as the best player in the camp, but he hasn't given us that yet, leaving the top player in camp still up for debate. - Eric Williams: 18 points, 8/12 shooting, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks – Although Williams had a bit of a disappointing measurement at just 6-8 1/2, he was able to make up for his lack of size with a great game Thursday. He showed the ability to score on virtually anyone from the low block and continues to display striking athleticism for a player his size. Williams would definitely benefit from another year of school, where he would have the opportunity to be the primary scoring option. TEAM 3 - Carlos Powell: 12 points, 5/9 shooting, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 turnovers – Carlos Powell put in a second consecutive impressive day at the camp, continuing to show off his sculpted body and explosive athleticism. Powell is a quick leaper, and is very adept at slashing to the basket. - Tre Simmons: 17 points, 7/11 shooting, 3/4 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers – Simmons played some point guard Thursday, and once again did not look out of place doing so. His jumper is silky smooth and is clearly his main draw as an NBA prospect. He may have sold some teams here on his ability to do a bit more than that, and therefore has seen his stock rise in this camp so far. - Will Conroy: 17 points, 7/15 shooting, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 turnovers – Conroy was apparently asked to do a better job of establishing himself on the offensive end and he responded right off the bat by scoring eight points in the first few minutes. He continued to do a solid job of running his team and playing good defense. He mixed up his improved jumper with the ability to get in the lane and either finish or find the open man. Conroy has arguably been the best point guard in this camp so far, and has made a nice case for himself as a backup PG for the NBA. - Jared Homan: 5 points, 2/7 shooting, 1 rebound, 2 turnovers, 2 blocks – Homan put in an impressive spring and had hopes to see this carry over into Chicago, however he hasn't been able to get things going at all this week. The post touches that he needs have been few and far between and the level of competition down low is clearly bothering him. Thus far, Homan is one of the bigger disappointments of the camp after a very impressive Portsmouth performance. - Ellis Myles: 7 points, 1/2 shooting, 5/6 free throws, 7 rebounds, 3 assists – Although he lacks athleticism, Myles has been able to produce at a very good level throughout the camp. His combination of quick post moves and brute strength have garnered Ellis attention from many European teams and will have numerous offers if he is unable to make an NBA roster. His lack of height and scoring ability will most likely cause him to go undrafted for now, but his combination of basketball IQ and ferociousness make him a unique prospect to observe. - Anthony Roberson: 14 points, 6/12 shooting, 5 assists, 0 turnovers – While Roberson will never be a pure point guard in that sense that he will make everyone around him better, he did a really nice job of putting the ball in the basket and picking up easy assists. He has a very quick trigger, for good or for bad, but can obviously shoot with the best of them from NBA range. A longtime European scout was quite confident that Roberson will find a spot in the league as a Troy Hudson-type point guard, but we feel that he still has a good amount of work to be done to get to that level. Teams will either love or hate the Saginaw native. Certain teams in need of a scoring guard off of the bench will definitely take a flyer on Roberson. Chicago:
Day Two Day Two was the first one with official games, though all players participated in drills in the morning session. The one-on-one, two-on-two, and shooting drills all offered a different way to evaluate these players away from a traditional game setting. There was a sense of disappointment in the camp Wednesday, due to a low talent level and the fact that the referees refused to just let players play. By the end of the day, the gym was one third full at best, and the grumpy conversations coming from the direction of NBA personnel was impossible to ignore. There was still a significant amount of talent on the rosters, but it was diluted amongst a large number of players and a very long and exhausting day.
GAME 1 / TEAM 6 - TEAM 5 (88-71) TEAM 6
- Will Bynum: 12 points, 4/5 shooting, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 turnovers – Bynum was a last minute addition to the camp, but clearly proved that he belonged in Chicago. Bynum helped himself about as much as he could today, considering he’s a 5-10 combo guard. He provided most of the highlights in the first game, displaying stunning athleticism, bullish strength, creative ballhandling, and a motor that doesn’t stop. Bynum was excellent in transition, either finishing at the rim or finding the open man. He brought down the house with an impressive dunk right at the final horn, and we are seeing more and more of Nate Robinson in his game. - Steven Smith: 13 points, 4/9 shooting, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 1 steal – Smith may have started off the game with a case of nerves. However, as the game wore on, Smith grew more comfortable and began showing off his smooth athletic ability and all-around talent. Smith is still a teenier, but showed sparks of a well-rounded, talented player. - Ronny Turiaf: 11 points, 4/9 shooting, 6 rebounds (5 offensive), 2 assists, 1 block – Turiaf is living up to his advanced billing and is looking like the clear-cut number one big man in the camp. He came out with typical Turiaf toughness, intensity and flare. He is the kind of player that draws attention to himself for all the right reasons. Turiaf was a terror on the offensive glass, and got position at will. There was no defender that could keep him from getting position on the block. One highlight was an emphatic rejection of a Deji Akindele layup attempt. He also threw down a monstrous dunk that left the shot clock shaking. Turiaf is looking up to the task of proving the scouts that he is a first-round selection. Where numerous borderline first-rounders turn down invitations, Turiaf should be commended for facing down this challenge with his usual ferocity – and coming away successful. - Rawle Marshall: 8 points, 2/7 shooting, 3 rebounds – Marshall didn’t have the best shooting night, but did impress with some NBA caliber moves, including a pull-up jumper near the three-point line. He also looked strong taking the ball to the basket. His ballhandling and outside shooting are quite hit-or-miss at this point, but his upside could certainly warrant a selection in the second round.
TEAM 5
- Travis Diener: 15 points, 5/5 field goal’s, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 0 turnovers - Diener started the camp off hot, hitting an NBA three-pointer and several more collegiate three-point shots within the first minutes of the first game. This came after an excellent performance in the shooting drills, where he sunk 6 of 10 shots from behind the three-point arc. He did a solid job running the team, not making mistakes, moving the ball up the floor quickly, and making everyone around him better. Diener looked very natural in game situations, as opposed to some of the more individually-oriented drills. The downside with Diener is that he shared time at point guard with Alex Acker, and the majority of his points were of the catch-and-shoot variety. Travis Diener will continue to face questions about whether he has NBA-caliber athleticism, but still clearly helped himself Wednesday.
- Luther Head: 14 points, 5/9 field goals, 1 assist – Head didn’t play a whole lot of point guard because there were a lot playmakers on his team, but he did impress slashing to the basket and using his athleticism to play some very tough defense. Of particular note, Head has had success defending some of the point guards at this camp. In the shooting drills, Head shot 9/10 from mid-range, 4/10 from the college three-point line, and 5/10 from the NBA line.
- Mike Bell: 5 points, 2/7 field goals – Bell had an up-and-down day. Despite a disappointing first game in which he forced the issue on the offensive end way too much, Bell did impress in the early morning scrimmages. He hit three NBA three-pointers, proving that he does have NBA range. Bell also helped himself in the combines, displaying an 8-foot-8 standing reach and a 40-inch vertical – according to Bell. The vertical measurement is especially impressive for a 6-foot-10 player, and the testers even had to reconfigure the vertical leap tester because he jumped so high. - Jawad Williams: 5 points, 2/9 shooting, 0 rebounds – Williams had another disappointing showing, alternating between passivity and forcing the issue way too much. He has done little to separate himself from the rest of the players at the camp once the North Carolina jersey has come off, and is looking more and more like a tweener forward without a real NBA position. In the shooting drills, Williams shot 5/10 from mid-range, 6/10 from the college line, and 4/10 from the NBA line. - Robert Whaley: 9 points, 4/10 shooting, 7 rebounds, 4 turnovers, 5 fouls – After impressing the first night in scrimmages and drills, Whaley had a bit of a disappointing second day. Whaley is a tall, bulky post player with some surprising post moves and smooth athleticism, but the way the game was played out Wednesday was clearly not in his favor. He made a few silly mistakes that led to turnovers, and missed a few looks that should have been easy conversations. In another sign that Whaley brings surprising talent to the table, he hit four of his last five NBA three-point attempts in the shooting drills.
- Deji Akindele: 2 points, 1/9 shooting, 8 rebounds, 6 fouls, 0 blocks – Not much went well for Akindele Wednesday, as his somewhat raw offensive game didn’t mesh well with the brutally contested interior play of the camp. Despite showing some very athletic moves in the post, he was unable to convert on any and was clearly bothered by the physical aggression of the other post players. He did fight hard on the defensive end and on the glass, however. Furthering the bad news was the fact that Akindele measured in at just 6-foot-11 in shoes – some two inches shorter than previously listed. While Akindele clearly has a lot of raw potential, he hasn’t stood out thus far in Chicago. SFX WORKOUT SESSION
There was little more than simulated pick-and-roll and fastbreak drills, with a few minutes of shooting at the end. Absolutely no competitive action took place, and thus there was very little glean from what went on. Essentially, there was no way for those in attendance to discover any strengths or the weaknesses that SFX potentially feared. The scouts around us were all expecting at least a bit of one-on-one or two-on-two, and expressed their displeasure. One highly respected NBA coach left the gym midway through the session, shaking his head in disgust, and muttering something along the lines of how he couldn’t believe he was suckered into wasting so much of his precious time. - Randolph Morris: He came in looking in better shape than he did at Kentucky, and has toned up his body significantly. He displayed decent but not overwhelming athletic ability, lumbering a bit up and down the court, but still showing adequate footspeed for the center position in the NBA. Morris knows his own game, and is very comfortable in his own skin. He is showing good mechanics on his shot, but still only managed to hit 10 of -25 from the mid-range. What was missing from this workout was a test of what should be his bread-and-butter skill – his back-to-the-basket post game. We would have liked to see him display his abilities when it comes to footwork, his hook shot, defense, and competitiveness in a demanding environment. This workout did not help or hurt Randolph Morris. - Amir Johnson: There wasn’t much new to see here from Johnson, as DrafCity has scouted him many times in the past. He continued to show impressive athleticism and length. He has very unappealing form on his shot, but it somehow manages to go in at a decent clip.
- Daniel Ewing: Ewing already had a reputation as a solid shooter, and really solidified that Wednesday. He was virtually automatic from mid-range all the way out to the NBA three-point line, and hit approximately 20 in a row from 18 to 20 feet. Ewing also showed impressive athleticism, dunking the ball effortlessly. Unfortunately, we saw nothing from Ewing regarding his point guard skills. It is crucial for Ewing to shed the “tweener” tag if he wants to move up in this draft, and he didn’t even get a chance to do that Wednesday. With the lack of PGs at Moody Bible, it isn’t a stretch to say that he really could have helped himself by showing off his skills and effectively running a team had he chose to attend. - Olu Famutimi: Famutimi showed athleticism, strength, and a slightly improved shot. His physique is impressive as well. However, he wasn’t invited to Chicago and will need to return to Arkansas ASAP if he wants to ever even have a chance of getting drafted.
GAME 2 / TEAM 1 - TEAM 2 (98-88) TEAM 1
- Omar Thomas: 17 points, 7/13 shooting, 6 fouls – Thomas had an impressive night stat-wise, but didn’t display the type of potential that will keep the scouts’ interest. Most of his scoring came from the mid-range area on a much-improved jumper, but Thomas didn’t display the ferocity around the basket that he was known for at UTEP. This may become a theme, as Thomas’ 6-foot-5 height limits him as a professional. - David Lee: 12 points, 4/7 shooting, 5 rebounds – Lee had a quiet but effective showing in his first game at Chicago – especially in the second half. He displayed some unique finesse-type skills for a power forward. He shows dynamite quickness, smooth passing, and soft touch around the basket. While Lee probably didn’t dominate the way a player of his billing might be expected to at this camp, this probably had more to do with his lack of touches and the style of play than anything that would reflect poorly on Lee. We feel that more impressive statistical performances could be in store for David Lee. One play of note took place in the 2-on-2 drills, where he put down a spectacular reverse dunk from the baseline over Ellis Myles.
- John Gilchrist: 16 points, 6/11 shooting, 2 assists, 2 turnovers – Perhaps the feature individual matchup of the day took place between John Gilchrist and Carl Krauser in the second game. Neither point guard was willing to back down one bit, as the defense was physical and the smack talk was flowing. While Krauser looked good in the drills, Gilchrist came away the clear winner when it came time for the games. He displayed physical superiority, an ability to get to the basket in numerous ways, and a nice perimeter jumper. While Gilchrist is clearly out for himself in this camp and isn’t exactly disproving the character questions that have been brought up over the past year, he may have put in the most impressive individual performance thus far in the camp.
TEAM 2
- Sean Banks: 19 points, 8/12 shooting, 3/6 3-pointers, 2 rebounds, 2 assists – Looking at the stat line and knowing Banks’ impressive natural tools, one might think that today’s performance would have been quite noteworthy. However, it may have just been more of the same. His performance in the one-on-one drills was especially unimpressive. Banks was unwilling to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket in the game, but his outside shot was brilliant. He hit three NBA range three-pointers, and it looks like Banks’ shot has improved dramatically since he hit just 34 percent from the floor this past season at Memphis. Leaving school a few months ago and spending three months working out every day with a personal trainer clearly hasn’t hurt his shot. Nonetheless, the question marks about demeanor and all-around game remain. When he wasn’t shooting the ball well, he simply didn’t look up to par. He has been a notoriously streaky shooter his entire career, so he will have to keep up the hot shooting throughout the rest of the camp before we are fully convinced. However, if he does just that, the upside of this 6-foot-8 true wing is very impressive, and he could easily earn himself a spot in the second round. GAME 3 / TEAM 4 - TEAM 3 (80-73)
TEAM 4
- Dee Brown: 10 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists – Brown only played 10 minutes due to an injury. His PG skills definitely still need some work, but his outside shooting is improved and his on-the-ball defense is very impressive. Anthony Roberson really struggled to put the ball on the floor when Brown was guarding him. While Brown is clearly a game-changer in this camp, it was readily apparent in the one-on-one drills that he isn’t the best at putting the ball on the floor and getting by his man. This is a serious deficiency in a 5-foot-10 combo guard, but Brown remains an intriguing prospect for this year or next. - Mindaugas Katelynas: 2 points, 1/7 shooting, 1 rebound, 3 turnovers – While Katelynas put in a great showing at the Portsmouth Invitational, this just didn’t carry over in the first days of the Chicago camp. He looks very uncomfortable on the wing, and was forcing his offense left and right. He wasn’t able to use his length and athleticism towards any sort of success, and this led to frustration and mistakes. Katelynas will have a chance to bounce back, but it’s impossible to describe this performance as anything other than a nightmare.
- Alan Anderson: 24 points, 5/8 shooting, 14/16 free throws, 2 rebounds – Anderson’s big performance can be characterized as quiet, but Anderson remained successful doing the same things that he did at Michigan State. He scored several times in the mid-range on dribble drive pull-ups, and iced the game from the line down the stretch. He showed off a lot of the versatility he has developed from playing four positions at Michigan State, even playing some point guard in the second half. His time playing the four at Michigan State was also represented, as it is clear that he loves contact and will fight right through it on his way to the basket. He showed confidence and assertiveness, and had to have given his stock a boost tonight.
TEAM 3
- Anthony Roberson: 15 points, 6/12 shooting, 2/3 three pointers, 2 assists, 3 turnovers – In short, Roberson looks like the exact same player he was in college. He’s a phenomenal shooter with a lightning quick release, but struggles making plays for his teammates that are off the ball. - Carlos Powell: 10 points, 4/6 shooting, 4 rebounds – The more we see of Carlos Powell, the more we like. Powell brings a lot of intriguing attributes to the table. He has excellent athleticism, an NBA body, a nice handle, and an improving mid-range shot. While he still has to work on the transition from combo forward to full-time wing, Powell is clearly a player that teams need to keep tabs on. - Jason Maxiell: 8 points, 3/8 shooting, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks – Maxiell continues to impress, succeeding in spite of all the “undersized PF” clichés. He is an athletic marvel, strong as an ox, and shockingly athletic for a player as thick as he is. He creates more than enough space to get his shot off by getting very low on his post ups, and continues to show off regular highlight plays thanks to a freakish 7-foot-2 wingspan. Players his size simply shouldn’t be able to explode the way that Maxiell does. While he didn’t put up the type of stat line that he is capable of in the game, Maxiell was dominant in the individual post drills. - Salim Stoudamire: While Stoudamire didn’t play in the game (officially because of an injury, but it’s speculated that he has pulled out), he did make quite an impression in the one-on-one and two-on-two drills. Where the average guard was attempting to take the ball to the basket in these drills, Stoudamire barely even tried. Regardless of who was guarding him or how closely they played him, he didn’t miss anything. For Stoudamire, an NBA three-pointer might as well be a layup. There really isn’t much else to say. - Dijon Thompson: 8 points 4/6 shooting, 6 rebounds, 4 assists – Thompson was somewhat of an enigma in college, and he didn’t exactly disprove that today. What he did continue to show is an impressive smooth style of offensive game. He has great body control, and looks nearly automatic from the college 3 point line. However, the soft tag remains. He still struggles when people get physical with him, though his teammates didn’t exactly make an effort to get him involved, the fact of the matter is that a player with Thompson’s type of talent should dominate a game like this a lot more than he did Wednesday.
Chicago:
Day One Although there were no official games on Day One, the players were divided into teams almost immediately, and led off the camp with an hour of drills and very competitive five-on-five scrimmages. There are three courts at the Moody Bible Gym, and the teams moved from court to court so spectators could view everyone without moving. The specific drills led to players running on and off the court quite frequently, which made it much more difficult for the games to develop a flow. The gym today was packed with numerous NBA greats, GMs, scouts and other team executives.
On Thursday, private workouts will be held at Moody Bible Institute for top prospects such as Martynas Andriuskevicius, Rudy Fernandez, Ersan Ilyasova, and many others.
Despite the lack of cohesive competition, the strengths and weaknesses of many players were on full display – sometimes excessively.
TEAM 1
- John Gilchrist: Gilchrist came out looking very confident in what he brings to the table, but might not have brought the right mindset to this camp. He is dominating the ball, complaining to the non-existent officials about calls, and even argued with a teammate (Ellis Myles) during a drill. His furious clapping could be heard around the gym as he demanded the ball every time it was out of his hands for more than three seconds. In one sequence, he had the ball on a three-on-zero fastbreak, with two teammates ahead of him. He elected to keep the ball, and missed on a dunk attempt. Gilchrist remains a talented player with a great combination of athleticism and strength, and used that to score in bundles – though on average shooting percentages. His physical style of defense was a factor, but you have to wonder where his head is at sometimes. He has his work cut out for him at this camp to prove that the term PG applies to his style of play and not just his size.
- Eddie Basden: He was not much of a factor Tuesday, though we expect him to make more of an impact once the actual games get underway. - Brandon Rush: Rush is the lone high schooler at the camp this season – and it showed on Day One. He was out of his element Tuesday, being pushed around by more experienced players that are fighting for their NBA future. Rush would hit the deck every time he received the slightest bit of contact, reiterating that he needs to fill out his very promising frame. He’ll have to bring it much harder Wednesday if he is going to stand any chance here. - Ellis Myles: Had a great dunk on Drago Pasalic, but otherwise had a very tough time finding his scoring touch, and not showing his typical all-around game to affect the flow of things otherwise.
- Marcin Gortat: Showed very little game Tuesday. He was pushed around constantly in the post and didn't fight back much.
- Randolph Morris: A no-show, according to a memo left by the NBA that stated he had not check in to his hotel room, and therefore is assumed to have pulled out. He has a workout run by SFX Wednesday.
TEAM 2
- Carl Krauser: Krauser clearly brought his A-game Tuesday, playing tough defense, showing a lot of emotion, and playing every second like it was his last. Made some great passes, showed good quickness with the ball in his hands, took a charge, and just played with a ton of heart. - Kelenna Azubuike: Got injured in a team practice Monday night, and will be reevaluated Wednesday by doctors in Washington DC. Hopefully he’s OK, because he really needs to have a strong showing here. - Larry O’Bannon: Showed excellent range on his shot and a really nice quick release. He’s being played at the point, and you can tell that that position is new to him.
- Sean Banks: While he had an off day shooting the ball, he did contribute in virtually every other facet of the game – whether it be blocking shots, pulling down monster rebounds, finding open teammates, and even playing some decent defense. It’s nice to see that much versatility in such a talented, but troubled prospect. - Drago Pasalic: Showed off a really nice perimeter stroke, but looked somewhat slow and overwhelmed physically on the defensive end.
- Eddy Fobbs: Had a number of incredible blocks Tuesday thanks to his excellent athletic ability. He is extremely raw on the offensive end, but his physical attributes make him an intriguing prospect. A mild groin injury may have held him back somewhat. - Jason Klotz: A surprising invitee at this camp. He didn't disappoint. Klotz showed off some excellent range from the perimeter, which extends to the collegiate three-point line. TEAM 3
- Anthony Roberson: Played both the point and off the ball Tuesday, but with mixed results. Didn’t look super comfortable in a playmaking role, but heated up in one game and scored consecutively on four straight possessions at the combo guard position.
- Salim Stoudamire: Missed his flight and is supposed to show up Wednesday to start off the camp.
- Tre Simmons: Looked great on one end of the court, playing the point when Roberson was off the ball, knocking down NBA threes and getting to the basket to finish with a super smooth floater in the lane.
- Dijon Thompson: Was non-existent on one end of the floor, but on another showed a very nice handle and knocked down the NBA three. - David Lee: Was played completely out of position at the small forward spot on the wing, but still managed to do a decent job regardless. Impressed with his hustle, rebounding, unselfishness and passing ability. Lee had a great putback to show off his athleticism and hit a nice 15-footer to boot. Preferred to make the extra pass on the fast break to get his teammates involved rather than try to do everything himself. - Jason Maxiell: Had a tough time offensively Tuesday, but was excellent in all other facets of the game. Most definitely leading the camp in blocked shots so far, rejecting players from the post, behind the arc, mid-range and basically changing the game with his athleticism and strength. Really impressed with his strength and tenacity, trying to tear off the rim with every dunk he had in the drills. Played about as hard as he could Tuesday.
- Marcus Campbell: Absolutely huge body, decent hands, but not much in terms of skills to go along with that. Did a nice job plodding his way up and down the court, and could really be a factor here if he put his mind to it,
TEAM 4
- Dee Brown: Everybody has a different opinion about how he looked. Keep in mind that we all watched different games of theirs. Some think he showed a nice handle, and did a good job of getting his teammates involved, while also playing very nice defense. Others thought he had a very tough time mixing up his scoring with his passing, looking somewhat confused at the point, but showing a great attitude regardless. - Aaron Miles: Was his usual solid self, not surprising anyone with anything he did, but not really hurting himself in the process. Looked good leading his team, directing his teammates, playing solid defense, but once again not scoring at all. - Alan Anderson: One of the bigger disappointments of the camp Tuesday, Anderson was forcing the issue constantly by overdribbling and running into brick walls, not showing a great first step and not making up for it in other facets of the game. - Mindaugas Katelynas: Had a tough time in the ballhandling department, and seemed to be forcing the issue a bit on the offensive end. Moved well off the ball, thanks to his excellent motor, but didn’t get a chance to show off his outstanding athleticism. Did do a nice job shooting the ball, and hit a number of NBA threes in the process.
- Taylor Coppenrath: Forced the issue badly at times, and either missed badly or had his shot blocked in the process. Looked a bit slow and selfish. - Torin Francis: Played extremely hard Tuesday, which is very nice to see out of such an inconsistent and sometimes passive prospect. Hit a couple of nice mid-range shots and rebounded the ball fairly well.
- Dwayne Jones: Had a number of really nice blocks, and some good strong putbacks at the basket. Has absolutely no ballhandling skills, and is extremely raw besides his athletic ability. Played very hard, though.
TEAM 5
- Travis Diener: Diener looked really shy Tuesday and just didn’t stand out at all. Even his phenomenal outside shot wasn’t falling for him.
- Luther Head: While he was unable to play the point as he was placed on the same team as Travis Diener and Ronnie Price, Head still picked up a couple of assists because of his excellent ball movement. He made up for his average ballhandling skills by playing outstanding defense, coming up with a number of nice steals - Ronnie Price: Price played some pretty nice defense and displaying his excellent athletic ability. He needs to do a better job showing off his ballhandling skills and making his presence felt on both ends of the floor. - Jawad Williams: Williams was another disappointment Tuesday, showing average ballhandling skills. His outside shot was not falling at all. The North Carolina graduate was playing both forward positions, but didn’t stand out at all in either role. - Robert Whaley: The biggest surprise of the camp. Whaley looked like the top prospect he was considered coming out of high school rather than the troubled role player he was at Cincinnati. Whaley showed great athleticism, a long body, and a mean streak that is rare to find in most big men today – especially at this camp. He dunked virtually every time he received the ball within five feet of the basket and was impressive running the floor, as he beat just about every other post player in camp from end to end.
- Deji Akindele: The Nigerian native possesses impressive physique and great athleticism, but not much more than that because of his overall rawness. As Deji told us, he has only been playing basketball for two and a half years and still has a ways to go, but remains an intriguing prospect because of his outstanding physical attributes.
TEAM 6
- Ronny Turiaf: Turiaf did a very nice job Tuesday, locking down his man, playing unselfishly, nailing mid-range jump shots, and even beating his man off of the dribble from the wing. He was a real pleasure to watch as he was constantly smiling, cheering on his teammates, and super competitive. Turiaf was easily considered one of the top three players at the camp Tuesday.
- Pops Mensah-Bonsu: Absolutely an incredible athletic specimen. Mensah-Bonsu was pump faking windmill dunks in drills and playing extremely hard. Unfortunately, he is very limited in the skills department and badly airballed a 12-foot jump shot to back that up. - Luke Schenscher: Luke was setting tough picks and getting dirty inside of the paint. He moved very well, knocked down his sky hook, and even nailed a pretty 16 foot jumper. LAKE SHORE ATHLETIC CLUB WORKOUT
The two most impressive players were Blankson and Mason. Straight showed a competitive spirit and decent scoring ability, but his lack of size doesn’t make him much of a factor for this upcoming draft. Wilkinson was surprisingly the worst of the four, looking completely out of sync the entire workout. His poor ballhandling and perimeter shooting along with the fact that he lacks athleticism and a true NBA position really kill any shot he ever really had of making it at this point.
Blankson showed an outstanding mid-range game and good all-around skills, except for his ability to create his own shot. He will probably need to polish his perimeter game for at least a season or two in Europe before really being able to state a valid case for making the league as an NBA small forward.
Mason was certainly the player who showed the most upside. His 6-foot-4 body, long arms, and outstanding athletic ability give him unique physical characteristics as a pure point guard that few players in this draft possess. The biggest knock on his game right now is a non existent shot from 18 feet and out and it doesn’t seem to be a case of simply lacking some polish. He really needs to work on his shooting mechanics, because his lack of perimeter shooting ability will make him an extremely easy player to scout and neutralize if he cannot keep defenses honest. What makes us think that he has a shot of making the league someday is the fact that he is an excellent defender who displays an outstanding attitude out on the court. Seems like he would be a model teammate, always cheering and motivating all players surrounding him. Tell us what you think about this article. E-mail us at HoopsHype@HoopsHype.com ____________________ |
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The
workout featuring the Graham twins was much more competitive than
most of the other workouts we saw over the course of the week. The Grahams
started out with some ballhandling drills, and eventually moved into shooting
drills. They started out inside the free-throw line and gradually worked
their way out, shooting both set shots and off the dribble. The shooting
made its way out to the three point line, where the results were mixed.
Stevie shot 15 of 35, and while Joey started out on fire, he got a little
tired and cooled off toward the end to shoot 20 of 35. Things got quite
a bit more competitive from there. There were several different drills
designed to show one-on-one play, one of which involved one player cutting
to the wing, catching a pass, and attempting to score on the other. The
full blown one-on-one drills were quite physical, with the twins playing
to a virtual draw.
-
John Gilchrist: 9 points, 4/9 shooting, 3 rebounds, 3 assists –
Gilchrist didn't have the type of headlining performance he had Wednesday,
but he continued to show that he is amongst the most impressive prospects
at the camp. His overall athleticism and strength are outstanding, and
this combination allowed him to impress on both ends of the floor. His
off-the-dribble ability might just be the best in Chicago. Unfortunately,
Gilchrist again looked to be playing for himself most of the game and
did not do a great job of getting his teammates involved.
-
Martynas Andriuskevicus: Andriuskevicius was the feature in a workout
that matched him up against former Penn State big man Jan Jagla.
Guards Donell Taylor and Drake Diener also participated.
In another workout that was controlled in order to showcase only players'
strengths, the majority of the time was spent in shooting and agility
drills. While Andriuskevicius has a smooth jumper and runs the floor quite
well for a big man, it was impossible for him to hide in the two-on-two
drills near the end of the workout. In the pick-and-roll drills, he had
a hard time staying on his feet and hit the deck quite a few times with
a thud. Jagla, quite a skinny post player himself, was able to keep Andriuskevicius
from doing much on the block, and soon he was settling for outside jumpers.
More disturbing was his obvious lack of conditioning. Andriuskevicius
became noticeably winded within a couple of minutes of half court two-on-two,
and the trainers had to resort to stopping the drill until he could catch
his breath.
Two-on-two
drills ensued and Granger regained his focus. He started to pull ahead
of Warrick in the individual matchup between them again. Granger received
the ball closer to the basket this time and used his footwork and strength
to back down Warrick a bit and showed off a very nice turnaround jump
shot in the process. Granger caught fire for a while and barely missed
once again from almost anywhere on the court. Granger may not yet adequate
at creating his own shot, and is better when others get him the ball in
a good position to score. Warrick really struggled putting the ball on
the floor from static positions and was forced into settling for numerous
outside shots, which is clearly not his game. That, combined with his
weak ballhandling skills, once again let Granger establish superiority.
In
between the morning and evening sessions at Moody Bible was a five-hour
break supposed to be highlighted by a workout run by sports agency SFX.
The workout featured the previously missing Randolph Morris, as
well Daniel Ewing, Olu Famutimi, and Amir Johnson.
Surprisingly enough, many recognizable NBA executives showed their faces
for the first time. However, the controlled way in which the workout was
conducted left little for the eager crowd to observe.
-
Brandon Rush:
12 points, 5/8 shooting, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks – As the only high
schooler at the camp, Rush clearly started out a bit tentatively. He forced
several shots, and looked out of place when more experienced players began
playing more physically. But as the game wore on, he gained more confidence
and his superior athletic ability couldn’t be held in check. He gained
a spark with an athletic block under the basket, and his offensive game
then came around. He looked much more aggressive in the second half, and
looked very good in swishing two NBA three-pointers. In a camp so devoid
of players with upside, Rush began to make a name for himself Tuesday.
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Will Conroy: One of the three best players at the camp Tuesday,
Conroy fit right into his role in the drills and continued to perform
in the five-on-five matchups as well. Conroy was always talking with his
teammates, leading his team and playing his role to perfection. His defense
was very intense, and he showed some really nice ballhandling skills to
get his man off balance and make his way to the hoop for a strong finish.
Really got everyone involved well – especially on the pick-and-roll.
Did a nice job mixing up all facets of his game. 
There
was a private workout scheduled by eight agents consisting of 16 players
over the course of three hours before the Chicago pre-draft camp tipped
off on Monday. The first workout was the most intriguing, pitting Odartey
Blankson and Jay Straight against Chet Mason and Mike
Wilkinson. The workout started with normal drills including the usual
ball handling and perimeter shooting. Afterwards, the players did two-on-two
games for about a half an hour.