Player workouts for the 2006 NBA Draft continued Sunday at the Presbyterian Hospital Training Center at Charlotte Bobcats Arena with big men Solomon Jones of the University of South Florida and Kenny Adeleke out of the University of Hartford in town for workouts.

Jones ranked first on the team in rebounds (9.8) and blocks (3.1) and second in scoring (13.2 points) while starting all 29 games for the Bulls his senior season and earning 2006 All-Big East Honorable Mention honors. The 6-10, 230-pound forward/center was also named USF’s 2006 MVP and Defensive Player of the Year after recording the second-most blocks (90) in school history and the eighth-most rebounds (285).

Adeleke transferred to Hartford for his senior season after playing three years at Hofstra, and dominated the America East Conference. He led the conference in scoring (20.7 points) and rebounding (13.1) and was second in blocks (1.7). The 6-9, 245-pound forward/center was named to the 2006 All-Conference First Team after being named America East Player of the Week seven times – a single-season record.

BobcatsBasketball.com visited with Bobcats Director of Scouting Kenny Williamson, Jones and Adeleke after the workouts:

(On what they look at when bringing guys like this in) Basically, what we want to see is their athleticism, whether they compete and what kind of shape they’re in. These two guys today, we talked to at the Portsmouth Invitational, and they both played pretty well down there. We interviewed them down there and thought if we’re fortunate to be able to get an additional pick in the late first or second round, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have these guys in town.

(On Solomon Jones) Solomon is an interesting guy. He’s a mixture of a few people – a little bit like Hakim Warrick, a running and jumping shot blocker, and a little bit like Darius Rice, where he has a nice stroke and nice touch. Solomon has tremendous upside because of the fact that he hasn’t really been playing competitive basketball all that long. I don’t know if this makes any difference, but he’s also from that same area where Tracy McGrady is from. I don’t know if there’s something in the oranges down there that’s producing runners and jumpers like that, but we’ll see.

(On Kenny Adeleke) He’s a competitor, and that’s what we like about him. Now, he’s an undersized NBA four, but we have a bunch of those undersized NBA fours in the league now, so I guess at some point in time we’re going to have to stop characterizing guys as undersized. He was really, really into the workout. He turned his ankle slightly, but he wasn’t going to stop. If Joe Sharpe, our trainer, hadn’t offered to re-tape him, he would have went right through it.

(On scouting when the Bobcats only have a top pick and not a late first or second rounder) Well, we have to prepare for those types of contingencies. Obviously we have to look at those top six or seven people that are expected to be at the high end of the draft. Then, there’s the possibility we could have a second pick at 50 (from Sacramento), so you have to prepare for the guys at the low end of the draft. The other thing we’ve done to keep our options open in case we get a phone call and somebody might want us to trade places, we’ve prepared a list of intermediate people. Initially when we started out, we said we weren’t going to be bringing in that many people, but that might change.

(On heading to Orlando for pre-draft camp on Tuesday) It’s an exciting time, even though our pick at three won’t be participating. However, if we make moves, maybe our pick is participating. It’s going to be interesting to see a lot of these guys go head-to-head, but it’s a little disappointing looking at the list of people who aren’t going to participate. But we’ll have enough plans in place so that when we come back and start to break things down, we’ll have a lot of things to argue about.

(On bringing Brandon Roy back for another workout) We’re definitely going to be bringing Brandon back. The young man flew across the country and hadn’t eaten properly, and you could tell right from the beginning that something was wrong. He just didn’t look good. But we are going to attempt to have him back.

(On bringing in LaMarcus Aldridge and Tyrus Thomas) Aldridge pulled out today, but we will have him in also. It was decided that his people did not want him to work out prior to Orlando. Thomas is going to be in too. What we would like to do is have those guys at the same time. It was on the horizon, but people decided at the last moment that it would be in their best interest to wait. That’s fine, we’ll take it and at some point in time they’ve got to come see us.

(On the possibility of bringing in J.J. Reddick) He’s in that make-a-move group, as well as his teammate (Shelden Williams). We’ll have a few people in here, without going up and down the list, but those two guys are definitely in that mix if we flop or make a move. We have talked to their people about coming in to workout.

(On what he wanted to show the Bobcats) I want them to see that I’m a big man who is able to run the floor and can knock down some shots with a nice touch around the basket. I have a nice little face-up game and am able to knock down shots and use my athleticism to put the ball on the floor and go around other big guys.

(On how he thinks he’d fit in with the Bobcats) I think I’d fit in good, having Sean May and Emeka Okafor down in the block – with them drawing a lot of attention, I’d be able to hit some nice jump shots around the basket.

(On how many other workouts he’s had) This is my sixth one. I’ve worked out for the Lakers, Trail Blazers, Timberwolves, Wizards and Raptors. The overall response has been good. I think I’ve had some good workouts, but I have to keep working hard and hope that my day will come.

(On if he’s getting any kind of feel for where he might be drafted) Not right now. Basically, I’m just coming into these workouts and working hard. Once the time gets closer, then we’ll see.

(On his confidence) I condition myself and am a very hard worker in the weight room and on the basketball court, so that’s why I feel that way. I think my numbers speak for themselves and show how hard I play, and I hope I showed them that today. I played at a small school and didn’t have any nationally televised games, but luckily I had some NBA scouts come see me during the season, and that got me where I am today.

(On how a workout like this might get him his shot in the NBA) I think camps like the Orlando pre-draft camp and these workouts definitely help me out, because teams see how hard I play. Every team needs a Reggie Evans or Ben Wallace type player. I think I’m very skilled offensively, but at the same time, I pride myself in my rebounding, diving for loose balls and just being very competitive. I definitely feel like I’m the caliber of those types of players. Any guy can score 20 points in this league, but every guy can’t rebound or give 100 percent of themselves every time they’re on the court, and that’s what I’m going to do.

(On if he’s had any other workouts)This is my sixth workout. I’ve been to New York, Minnesota, Memphis, New Jersey and the Los Angeles Lakers. A lot of teams were surprised with my offensive skills and my multiple post moves. They also liked and complimented me on how hard I played, how I dove for loose balls and attacked the boards. This was my toughest workout, but I like it because they want to see how tough you are, and I’m a very tough player.

(On having to head to the training room but returning to finish the workout) I actually sprained my ankle, but luckily it wasn’t a serious injury. I cam back and finished everything. That shows me being tough again and fighting through the injury. Hopefully I can rest it today or tomorrow, but I wasn’t about to let it stop me.

(On his expectations) I think by the end of Draft Day, everybody will know who I am. I’m hungry and under the radar right now but am getting the opportunity to show people how competitive I am. Every workout is very important to me. My goal is to get drafted – it’s been a dream of mine since I started playing. Whether that’s something like me climbing up the charts to late first round, second round or being a free agent, I just want to be in the NBA and show what I can do. I love playing this game and play the game with passion.