DRAFT EVALUATION SESSIONS CONTINUE WITH DENG, EMMETT
Deng was named All-ACC Third Team and was a unanimous All-ACC Freshman selection after averaging 15.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and shooting 47.5 percent for the Duke Blue Devils. He was one of only two players in the ACC to rank among the top 10 in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots. As a high school senior at Blair Academy, Deng was named First Team All-America by Parade and USA Today.
Emmett is the first player in Big 12 history to be named to the All-Big 12 First Team in three consecutive seasons. The 6-3, 230-pound guard led the Big 12 in scoring (20.6 ppg) for the second consecutive year and finished his collegiate career as Texas Tech’s all-time leading scorer with 2,256 points. He was originally a early entry candidate for the 2003 NBA Draft before withdrawing and returning to college for a fourth year.
BobcatsBasketball.com visited with Bobcats General Manager & Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff and both players after the workout:
GENERAL MANAGER & HEAD COACH BERNIE BICKERSTAFF
(on the workout)
First with Deng, I would say cerebral and efficient. His recognition of where he is (on the floor) and what he needs to do is just terrific. With Emmett, he’s very explosive with a nice NBA body. He could be a good player.
(on having four guys identified as potential choices at number four)
Deng obviously would stack into that group. With all candor, Andre would not be in that category. He would be considered in a late first round or second round pick for us. (Deng) has a real good concept of basketball. He’s probably one of the few guys that have come in here and made a move and it only took him one dribble to uncoil and finish around the basket. When the defense drops off him, he takes the shot – and it’s recognition, you don’t even have to say anything. What I like about him too, is that you don’t have to ask him to work hard. The work ethic is there.
(on Deng’s quickness)
He’s efficient. You know what happens with people who are efficient – whereas sometimes these athletes are doing superfluous things, the efficient guys they (get the job done). That’s what he has to be. There have been a lot of great basketball players in this league – Larry Bird was efficient. He didn’t have all the great quickness, but he seized the moment. I think that is what this kid is about. He can shoot the basketball, his touch was good, his mechanics were good, the release was good and it was consistent. And his athleticism was a little better than I thought it would be.
(on what Deng needs to work on)
I think he has to work on the three (small forward) position. That’s where he’ll be, although he could create some matchups. At Duke, they used him defensively at the four on second bigs. What he has to do is get acclimated to defending the three’s, the two’s, the quicker guys. All that is about is playing angles and I think he will be one of the guys that you can give him a scouting report and he’ll be able to adhere to it.
(on Deng’s athleticism)
I don’t think he is what you would represent as the epitome of athleticism as we’ve labeled on some of the guys that have come in here, but he’s efficient enough and has enough athleticism that I don’t think it will be a problem with him. I think he will make it up in terms of the cerebral part of his game.
(on the number four pick and the expansion list)
I think (Deng) has muddied the waters and that’s a good thing for us. We’re in a situation that we will get a good player. The expansion list worked out real good for us in terms of giving us flexibility because of the restricted free agents on there. We could conceivably end up with eight to nine roster spots available in terms of being able to bring in other players. Things are working out well.
LUOL DENG
(on the workout)
It was my first workout and I thought it went pretty well. I came here ready for it and prepared well for it. Andre and I took the flight together from the pre-draft camp and we were very excited about it. We spoke about it on the plane ride here. We just wanted to come out here and do our best.
(on playing for an expansion team)
Whoever gets drafted by the Bobcats, it will be a great opportunity. It’s an expansion team and the team will be built around them. I think it’s a great opportunity for that individual. You’ve really got to get to work for everything to be built around you.
(on being prepared for the workout by Tim Grover)
There’s a lot of stuff we did today that is similar to what I did with Tim. This was more intense than what I usually do. When we work out with Tim, we normally do the practice and you do extra running. This was all combined together, but I thought it was very similar.
(on his athleticism)
I feel like I’m a better athlete than what I get credit for.
(on entering NBA after only one year of college)
It’s a little bit of a surprise because last year when I was in high school going to college, I never thought I would be in this position that quick. But then again, it is what I’ve been working hard for -- to always get to that dream where you play in the NBA. I just didn’t expect it to come that fast.
ANDRE EMMETT
(on the workout)
I think I did pretty good. I played tough on defense, was aggressive on offense and shot the ball pretty well. I’m just waiting to see what is going to happen.
(on his positive play at the pre-draft camp in Chicago)
Having been there before, I knew to come in and be more aggressive – especially on defense. Then I knew to play my game on offense, let the game come to me and do the little things that college players and high school players usually don’t do. Really, I just tried to play tough all around.
(on whether the Bobcats’ interest means he’ll be a high second round pick)
I’m hearing a lot of things, but I don’t want to speak too fast and get ahead of myself. I just came in and worked hard and I’ll let the chips fall where they may.
(on his style of play)
I played a different style of ball in college. Now I can put the actually put the fundamental part of the game with my natural talent and hopefully just make the best out of that in the NBA.
|
|
|