Draft Workouts Gallery

Potential Late First Rounders In Friday Afternoon

Charlotte's preparation for the 2007 NBA Draft continued Friday afternoon at the Presbyterian Hospital Training Center at Charlotte Bobcats Arena with Boston College's Jared Dudley, Providence's Herbert Hill and Florida's Chris Richard all taking part in predraft workouts.

Dudley is projected to be a late first-round or early second-round pick in the 2007 NBA Draft after finishing his collegiate career ranked fifth on Boston College’s all-time career scoring list (2,071 points). The 6-7, 225-pound versatile forward was named the 2006-07 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year after scoring in double-digits in all 30 games while averaging career-bests in points (19.0) and rebounds (8.3). He was a unanimous All-ACC First Team selection and was also a Wooden Award finalist while leading the Eagles to a 21-12 overall record and berth in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, where they topped Texas Tech in the opening round before falling to Georgetown in the round of 32. He is one of only two BC players all-time (Sean Marshall) to make four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances with the Eagles.

Hill is also projected to be a potential late first or early second-round selection after a successful senior season in which he was named All-Big East First Team and the league’s Most Improved Player. The 6-10, 240-pound center forward/center led the Big East in scoring (19.9 points), becoming the third Friar in school history to do so, and was second in the league in rebounding (9.8). He registered the third-best single-season field goal percentage of all-time (.640) at Providence and finished his collegiate career ranked fourth all-time in blocked shots (189).

Richard won the SEC Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2006-07 after helping Florida to the second of back-to-back NCAA Championships. The 6-9, 255-pound forward/center averaged 18.4 minutes with the Gators in his senior season, chipping in with 6.2 points on 69.0 percent shooting (98-142) off the bench and adding 3.7 rebounds.

Dudley and Hill spoke to the media following Friday's workout:

(On where else he has worked out)
This was my seventh workout. I’ve been in Miami, Houston, New York, New Jersey, (which was a combined workout) Philadelphia, Washington, and I forget the last one.

(On why this workout was more challenging than other ones)
Well for one, you basically have the NFL combine here. They make you test your vertical jump, you do sprints, and other stuff to get you going. I did that at the pre-draft camps also. You have to sprint to water breaks, and other places give you more breaks than here. Philadelphia gives you 10 water breaks, so if you’re going from Philadelphia to here, I feel sorry for you.

(On being ACC Player of the Year and not being projected as a lottery pick)
To be honest with you, I’ve had to deal with that my whole life. It’s only fitting that I’m under-appreciated, I wouldn’t want it any other way. For me, it’s not how high I get drafted, but the situation I go to. I want to win right away and I want to help the organization out. What you are in high school and college doesn’t mean anything about what you’re going to be in the NBA.

(On where he thinks he may be drafted)
Anywhere from about 20 to 35 is fitting. At the end, I think the late 20’s fits my attributes the best. The Houston’s, San Antonio’s, Utah’s – that is more of my style, but I can adapt. I believe I can play on a team that gets up and down. It’s not college anymore, I’m not going to be playing 40 minutes. I dropped 15 pounds from season’s end and I’m taking this seriously.

(On the biggest adjustment he has to make in the NBA)
I think the biggest adjustment is that I’m going to be playing with the best athletes in the world. I’m going to be out there on an island against Dwyane Wade or LeBron (James), but I’m just going to try to use my basketball IQ. You saw San Antonio and the way they play. Besides, Bruce Bowen and maybe (Tim) Duncan, they don’t really have superior one-on-one defenders, they play a team defense, and that’s what I’m going to bring.

(On what he likes about the possibility of playing for the Bobcats)
For one, Charlotte is in my range of picks. They are an upcoming organization and obviously Michael Jordan is here, and he is not going to stop until he is successful. They are building the program through the draft. They have (Emeka) Okafor, who is one of the best defenders in the league; they just drafted Adam Morrison; they have Raymond Felton and Sean May, so they definitely have a lot of young talent. With a free agent acquisition and another addition through the draft, they are right there. The Eastern Conference is wide open, so if you add a couple of other pieces, you are right there.

HERBERT HILL • 6-10 • 240 LBS. • FORWARD/CENTER • PROVIDENCE • SENIOR
(On today’s workout)
It was a very good, intense workout. It was probably my hardest one so far.

(On where he thinks he may be drafted)
I’m hearing I may go in the late first round or early second round. I really don’t pay attention to that stuff though. It’s not even about where you go these days, you look at Monta Ellis, guys like Carlos Boozer, Gilbert Arenas, those guys were drafted in the second round. Sometimes it’s good to go in the second round. It’s all about what situation you get in that allows you to get on the court the most and develop over time like those guys did. My goal is to get in a good situation where I can come in, play some minutes and develop over time.

(On the aspect of his game that he believes will translate best into the NBA)
I think my athleticism and I can finish well and score in the post so I can help a team that needs help with low post scoring and rebounding and blocking shots. I think I’m a four but as I continue to get stronger and put on more weight I can play five at the next level.

(On what he knows about the Bobcats)
I know a lot about the team. I watch basketball all the time. I know some of the coaches from different camps and I know coach (Phil) Ford from when he played at the University of North Carolina. You also hear about him all the time as being one of the greatest guards ever in the state (of North Carolina). It was a good experience to meet him and go out to dinner with him last night.