Potential Lottery Picks Highlight Second Day of Workouts
By Matt Rochinski and Malinda Murray
bobcats.com
June 9, 2008
http://www.nba.com/media/bobcats/flvplayer.swf
Matt Rochinski / bobcats.com
Bobcats Head Coach Larry Brown talks to the six
players brought in for their draft workouts
[img]http://www.nba.com/media/bobcats/07/tools_print.gif[/img]
Video - Day 2 |
UPDAED - Workout Gallery |
Draft Central
Charlotte's preparation for the 2008 NBA Draft continued Monday at the Presbyterian Hospital Training Center at Time Warner Cable Arena with WestVirginia's Joe Alexander, Syracuse's
Donte Greene, Georgetown's
Patrick Ewing Jr., Memphis'
RobertDozier, UNC-Greensboro's
Kyle Hines and UCLA's
Luc Mbah a Moute all participating in draft workouts with theBobcats.
Joe Alexander is an early entry candidate for the 2008 NBADraft and has seen his stock rise as of late, with many
mock drafts projecting him to gosomewhere in the lottery. He earned First Team All-Big East Honors, as well as Honorable Mention All-American by The Associated Press as a junior in 2007-08after leading West Virginia in scoring (16.9 points, ranked eighth in the Big East), rebounding (6.4), and blocked shots (1.5, eighth). He currently rankseighth on West Virginia's all-time leaders for blocked shots (99). Has scored in double figures in 48 career games.
Donte Greene is also an early entry candidate for the 2008 NBADraft after playing one year at Syracuse. He is currently projected to be a potential late lottery pick or go somewhere in the middle of the first round.Greene earned Second Team All-Big East honors and was named to the league's All-Rookie Team after leading the Orange in scoring (17.7 point, ranked fourthin the Big East) and ranking second in rebounding (7.2). He also placed fifth in the conference in blocked shots (1.6). His season total of 620 points ranks asthe second-highest for a freshman in Syracuse history, behind Carmelo Anthony.
Patrick Ewing Jr. received the inaugural Big East Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2007-08 after averaging 6.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8assists for the Hoyas. The son of former Georgetown and New York Knicks great and NBA Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing averaged 5.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in twoseasons at Georgetown after transferring from Indiana following his sophomore season in 2004-05.
Robert Dozier is an early entry candidate for the 2008 NBA Draft after helping lead Memphis to the 2008 NCAA Championship game, where theTigers eventually fell to Kansas. He started 75 of 111 career games in his three years with Memphis and currently ranks as the seventh all-time leader inblocked shots in school history with 167. Dozier averaged 9.2 points, 6.8 rebounds (ranked seventh in C-USA) and 1.8 blocked shots (fifth) in his junior seasonwith the Tigers.
Kyle Hines finished his four-year career at UNC Greensboro as the all-time leader in scoring (2,187), rebounding (1,047) and blocks (349).He was a 2006-07 All America Honorable Mention selection by The Associated Press and the Southern Conference Player of the Year, while also being honored as afour-time All-SoCon First Team selection. Hines ranked second in the Southern Conference in scoring (19.2 points) and first in rebounding (9.1) and blocks(3.1) in his senior season.
Luc Mbah a Moute is also an early entry candidate to the 2008 NBA Draft after helping guide UCLA to the 2008 Final Four, where the Bruinsfell to Memphis. He earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 and Honorable Mention All-Defensive Team honors as a junior in 2007-08 after averaging 8.8 points and6.0 rebounds (tied for 11th in the Pac-10). Mbah a Moute started 106 of 107 games he played in and currently ranks 15th all-time on UCLA's careerrebounding list with 775 boards.
Bobcats Head Coach Larry Brown, Alexander, Greene, Ewing Jr. and Hines all spoke with the media following the workout.
Bobcats Head Coach Larry Brown
(On the workout)
It was good. This was a great group with a lot of talented kids.
(On Joe Alexander)
The last part of the Big East season he had a couple of high 30-point games. I think in three or four of the last games, he set career highs in some real goodcompetitive games. He's athletic off the charts. He reminds me a lot of Bobby Jones athletically. He can really run and jump and he shoots the ball prettygood. I think people probably recognize that. When he was tested in Orlando, a lot of his testing was pretty impressive.
(On how difficult it might be for a freshman like Donte Greene to transition to the NBA)
It's always hard when you have limited experience, especially somebody like him. I was telling him today that he's played and guarded big guys hiswhole career and now he's probably going to be a small forward in the NBA at 6-10. He's got to guard LeBron (James), Kobe (Bryant), Carmelo (Anthony)and people like that. It's going to be an adjustment, but he's highly skilled and he's a real good kid that wants to get better. I can see whypeople have him projected high. Somebody with that size and length and the ability to handle the ball and shoot the ball, it's a very hard combination tofind.
(On if Patrick Ewing Jr.'s NBA pedigree has had an influence)
I don't think that means anything. He's here because he's shown the ability. He played on a great team at Georgetown. He was an important part oftheir success. He's a high energy kid that can defend. He respects the game. I think he'll be in the league. He's athletic and long. I think he candefend his position pretty well.
(On why he places such a high emphasis on teaching during workouts)
I told them all I want to find out who wants to learn. I want them to leave here and feel like we cared about them and tried to help them get better. Obviouslyyou're not going to be able to draft everybody and you hope they have a good experience with you and then someday down the line and we're in a positionto get them, hopefully they feel good about the Bobcats and what we've done.
(On if he looks at how quickly players are able to absorb concepts)
Not so much their ability to absorb, but just the fact that they care enough to want to do it right. We all don't learn at the same pace, but as long asguys try to listen and do what we ask them to do, that's important to me. We have to coach them up now. We get a lot of kids who are young and don'thave the chance to play four years in college, so I think it's vital you have a group that wants to get better and kids that are motivated to learn. I feelgood about it. I know a lot of kids say that we might not work them as hard, but the fact that they know we're trying to teach them is important to us.
(On Kyle Hines)
I can't believe a New Jersey kid goes to UNCG (laughter). We were really impressed with him in Orlando and then I looked at his career and he's hadunbelievable stats. He's been consistent. He's made All-Conference four years. I like him. He tries to defend and he tries to do all the little things.I'm glad he came here.
Joe Alexander • 6-8 • 230 lbs. • Forward • West Virginia • Junior
(On how the workout went)
It went really well. It was really different because Coach Brown does a lot more coaching instead of just strictly the drill work I've had in my otherworkouts, but it went well.
(On if working out with six players makes the workout more difficult)
It makes it more difficult from a learning standpoint because you have to pay attention more because he's not always talking to you as an individual,he's talking to other guys. If you just stay focused, it's not that hard.
(On why his stock in the draft seems to be rising)
I've always been a sleeper because not many people have seen everything that I can do. Not a lot of coaches have been able to evaluate me in workoutsituations. Now that that's happening, people are recognizing that I have guard skills, that I can dribble and shoot and do things they didn't knowabout.
(On what position he will play in the NBA)
Initially I'm going to be a three and then after that, depending on my improvement I hope to branch out to other positions as well.
Donte Greene • 6-11 • 226 lbs. • Forward • Syracuse • Freshman
(On the workout)
I heard around the league that it's definitely a teaching workout. Coach Brown is a Hall-of-Fame coach and one of the greatest coaches in the NBA, sohe's going to teach young guys like myself how to play things and what's going on. Especially me, coming from Syracuse and never playing a lot of zone,he helped me out on the defensive end and let me know a few pointers here and there. It was a good workout overall.
(On his workouts so far)
This is my third workout. I was in Phoenix last week and Milwaukee. It's more hands on, definitely more hands on. Coach (Brown) is a little bit more intoit and there's lot more direction. You definitely have to pay attention, but it was definitely a good workout though.
(On the difference between the workouts)
The Phoenix workout was more of conditioning. Milwaukee, there was some teaching, but not as much as here. Milwaukee was more of paying attention to specificdirection and seeing how well you can respond to someone telling you what to do and going out and performing. Here there is definitely a lot of teaching, butit was good though.
(On what position he expects to play in the NBA)
Primarily a three, but occasionally a four. It depends on what team we're playing that night and who's guarding who.
(On what he feels like his strengths are)
I feel like my shooting for my size. I'm a 6-10 small forward who can shoot, put it on the floor, who also has a post game. I try to come with an overallgame and definitely show that. My athleticism (is a strength). People sleep on my athleticism a lot, but I feel like I'm a very athletic player for my sizeand I'm just trying to work at it and get better.
(On what other workouts he has scheduled)
After I leave here, I do the East Coast thing, New Jersey and Philly and then I fly west to Sacramento, Portland, Golden State and the Clippers.
Patrick Ewing Jr. • 6-8 • 240 lbs. • Forward • Georgetown • Senior
(On the workout)
It was good. We got a lot out of it. Coach (Brown) teaches a lot in his workouts and you have to take it and use it as much as you can.
(On if having Coach Brown so involved was surprising)
It didn't shock me because that's how Coach Thompson is too. I'm kind of used to it. It helps you learn faster.
(On if having a father who had a Hall-of-Fame career has had an affect on him)
I feel like it's helped a lot to be honest with you. Being around this environment and knowing what it takes to get here, I think it's helped alot.
(On what he knows about the Bobcats)
I know a little bit about them. I know some of the players. I know all the Carolina boys that are on the team. I don't know much about the way Coach Browncoaches, but I would expect to see a different team next year. Hopefully if I'm here, we'll get a lot of wins.
(On what he could bring to the team)
My versatility. I feel like I'm able to do a lot of things on the court. I don't look to score 20 points a game, but I do what I can to help the teamin other ways.
(On his workouts)
I've done the Pistons and the Bulls. They are all tough. You have to work hard in all of them because you are trying to impress so hopefully they will pickyou. I felt like having those two under my belt helped me prepare more for this one.
(On if he had any message for Dell Curry after his son Stephen helped knock Georgetown out of the NCAA Tournament)
I told him (Dell Curry) to tell Stephen (Curry) that I didn't appreciate how he handled our guards in the second half. Steph's a good player and heproved himself throughout the whole season. The way he played in the tournament spoke volumes about his game because that was one of the first times he was onthe national stage like that. He played big in all the games. Our game wasn't the first big game he played in. He definitely knew how to rock us to sleepin the first half and then take over in the second half. He did a great job of it.
Kyle Hines • 6-6 • 230 lbs. • Forward • UNC Greensboro • Senior
(On being a local product and being able to work out with the Bobcats)
It's great feeling. As you can see, I'm a local kid that comes in here. I'm big fan of the Bobcats. Mr. Curry over there, I played in the sameconference as his son, so it's a good opportunity to come through and show these guys what I can do.
(On how he felt he did during the workout)
I thought I did well. I just wanted to go out there and try to compete and try to play hard and just show them that I can play a little bit too.
(On Coach Brown teaching during the workout)
It's just an honor to be taught by one of the greatest coaches of all time and to come in here and just take away some knowledge that he's going tobless us with. It's definitely an honor.
(On his plans if he doesn't get drafted)
If I don't get drafted, I'm going to try to get with a summer league team. If I play well in summer league, hopefully I'll get invited to trainingcamp, but if I don't get invited to training camp, I'll definitely look at overseas options.
(On if he thinks he did well enough to open some eyes)
I hope so. I just went out there and played hard. I've been working hard during these past three or four months. I'm just trying to play hard andhopefully I opened up some eyes.
(On if playing in Charlotte would be the best case scenario)
I love Charlotte. I've only been here three or four times, but every time I come here, I love the city. I was telling all my teammates back in Greensborothat I would love to be here and move here. It's a great town.
(On the other workouts he has scheduled)
I have Boston and San Antonio and I think I have the Wizards.
(On this experience)
It was a great experience all the way from Portsmouth to the barnstorming to Orlando and now these workouts. It's a great experience. In Greensboro,we're kind of a smaller school, so we don't get a lot of exposure. We don't get a lot of these opportunities, so for me to come here and live outthis experience, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. I'm definitely going to try to make the best of it.
, and about 6 weeks older than Koufos.
