Player workouts for the 2006 NBA Draft continued Saturday at the Presbyterian Hospital Training Center at Charlotte Bobcats Arena with UCLA’s Ryan Hollins, Wake Forest’s Chris Ellis and Russian Superleague player Vladimir Veremeenko all in town.

Hollins averaged 7.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.9 block for the Bruins in his senior season. The 7-0, 225-pound center scored in double digits 11 times in 2005-06, including five of six NCAA Tournament games, while being named the 2006 NCAA Oakland Regional Most Outstanding Player. He finished his career at UCLA as the fourth all-time leading shot blocker with 101 total blocks.

Ellis averaged 5.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 33 games for Wake Forest in 2005-06, while earning 10 starts. The 6-9, 267-pound forward shot 47.9 percent from the field, including 41.7 percent from three-point range while ranking fourth on the team in scoring. He tied for second on the team with a total of 37 blocks.

Veremeenko averaged 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in 22.7 minutes in his second season with Dynamo St. Petersburg in the Russian League. The 6-10, 230-pound forward also averaged 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds in 21.1 minutes in FIBA EuroCup action.

BobcatsBasketball.com visited with Bobcats General Manager & Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff, Hollins and Ellis after the workouts:

(On mentioning six but having it narrowed down to three) I did, but we just don’t know what’s going to happen. We like those guys, and I think anything that you can say at this point -- the way that this is going -- could be detrimental.

(On what he thinks Toronto and Chicago will do at No. 1 and No. 2) I think they will stay where they are. It’s hard if you have the first pick to give it up, unless you could make a major move and do something that would really move you to a different level of a basketball team -- you know, with a veteran player.

(On making a deal in the first year and not last year) We tried last year, but we got turned down. I think it’s necessary to deal. You just have to be able to sift through the (garbage), and there’s a lot of it out there. And there’s more of it this year because of the types of players that are there. There are a lot of similar players there, and I think they are all going to be good players. And I think after you leave seven and eight and you go up, there are going to be good players there. There’s not the notoriety like a LeBron (James), and I think a lot of it had to do with the intrigue of the high school guys coming out.

(On the importance of the draft) In my opinion, the draft is important because that’s where we are building and acquiring our new players, whether it was the draft from the expansion team or the collegiate team, but I think the first round doesn’t have the aura that it had when you were tied up for four years. Now you only have two years for a player and then you can cut your losses if it doesn’t work out. You remember people didn’t want to have first round picks because they didn’t want to tie up the salary cap for more than two years.

(On what the process is from now until Wednesday) Well, a lot of work rating the top 60 players and ranking them in our order of preference, so when the names come off we can take them off the board. Getting a free agent list together -- a list of players who may not be drafted -- for our summer program and having telephone numbers so we can make the telephone calls immediately after the draft. So that’s really the process.

(On Brandon Roy not working out) I don’t know, maybe he thinks there is a better pick for him there. And I talked to his college… about a lot of things. But I think to me the best thing they did in the NBA is go to two rounds. Now guys who aren’t drafted get to go to a team that fits their personality, and I think that’s more important. In the draft, guys try to align themselves with a team -- so maybe he thinks he chose a team that will create a better situation for him.

(On Roy not coming in) Well, he was willing to work out -- he was willing to come in on a Saturday, but we just said okay, but we we’ll pass. We know enough about him when we rank him, since he hasn’t been in here. We’ve watched him on numerous occasions because the workouts are not the sole reasons for the drafting -- it’s the whole body at work in our situation. So it was more so that Roy didn’t want to come back in, but we chose to pass on that Saturday because we are comfortable with who he is.

(On if he’s going to have other workouts) Yes, I’m going back to New Jersey for a second time and the Lakers.

(On what he could bring the Bobcats) Being seven feet tall doesn’t hurt. I can get down the floor, block shots, and I can get open shots. I’m getting better at every part of my game.

(On where he thinks he might end up) I’m not even worried about that. I’m just trying to work hard and get better.

(On the opportunity to workout for Bernie Bickerstaff) I know he has a history with my dad (Dale Ellis). It was a great opportunity to get in and get a look in front of the Bobcats.

(On his draft potential) This was my first workout. I still have a couple of teams looking at me.

(On skills he possesses to take him to the next level) I know I can shoot the ball well and play in the post. I can guard some on the perimeter and have some dribbling skills. I think I have a lot to offer to a team.

(On the advice he received from his father, Dale Ellis) He just told me to go in and play hard, to smile, and to be myself.