Draft Workout
June 15, 2006 - Bucks Training Center

On Thursday, June 15, the Bucks held their their third draft prospect workout at the team's training center in St. Francis, WI. In the days leading up to the 2006 NBA Draft (June 27), the Bucks will hold a series of these workouts as they prepare to decide who to select with their lone pick, the 39th overall selection. Thursday's workout roster included:

  • Cameron Bennerman ... 6-4 ... 205 lbs ... senior guard/forward from NC State University
  • Kyrylo Fesenko ... 6-11 ... 230 lbs ... center from Ukraine
  • Vincent Grier ... 6-5 ... 200 lbs ... senior forward from the University of Minnesota
  • Yemi Nicholson ... 6-10 ... 255 lbs ... senior center from the University of Denver

    Bucks.com was on hand for the media availability following the 2-hour workout ...


    Dave Babcock
    Milwaukee Bucks Director of Player Personnel:

    Are there any more workouts coming up?
    We have four more (guys coming in) tomorrow – four on Monday, four on Tuesday and we have our own camp on Wednesday. I’ll bring four guys in Saturday right before the mini-camp and that Monday and Tuesday before the draft we’ll have some workouts. It’ll be close.

    How did the four guys do today?
    The big kid, Fesenko, is only 19-years-old from Ukraine. He’s got a lot of talent outside. He moves his feet very well for a big guy. He’s definitely draftable. He could be drafted before us at 39. He’s got a lot of potential and an upside that a lot of teams are intrigued by. Yemi Nicholson did a good job. Probably won’t be for us at 39, but I definitely could see him drafted in the second round. The other two kids, Vincent Grier and Cameron Bennerman both did very well. They’re athletic. They made shots. I’d consider them potential second round picks.

    How will the team decide who to pick?
    I think we’ll look at the best player position-wise. If we did look position-wise it would be power forward or a swing-type athlete that doesn’t preclude us from taking another position if he’s the best player.

    How did you find out about Kyrylo Fesenko?
    What’s funny is that he didn’t play much (in Ukraine). Some of these (European) teams over there, these young guys, even though they’re talented, don’t play much. But I’ve seen him several times. I saw him last summer in Moscow – a lot of talent.


    Cameron Bennerman:
    What inspired you to enter the draft?
    I’m a senior. A lot of guys have dreams of going to the NBA, but I honestly feel that I have a shot. God has really blessed me with the ability, the foundation, the athleticism and the knowledge of the game. Not to mention the respect I have for the league, the players, and its staff. It’s a dream of mine as well and I think I belong here.

    How have you been preparing for workouts?
    I work out with Tim Grover. They’ve done a good job of getting us in shape, preparing us for all of this stuff. This is nothing new. I’m just happy to be in shape. When you go through a workout, you have to be in shape. That’s the biggest thing I’ve noticed.

    What did you learn from this workout?
    It’s pretty intense. Good one-on-one stuff. (Assistant Coach Lester Conner is) a real student of the game. Throughout the workout, if I did something wrong, or wasn’t doing it as hard, he let me know. So I really like that.

    What other teams will you workout with?
    I have Minnesota, Boston, Indiana and another.

    What do you consider to be your strengths?
    My strength is my athleticism. I think a lot of people underestimate me because of my size, but look at Dwyane Wade. He’s the ideal example of what I’m capable of being. I really look at him and try to work on my ball handling, athleticism, speed, jumping – all of that stuff. I really impressed them with that. My shooting – I really impressed them with that, too. They didn’t let too many people know how good of a shooter I am so I’m just trying to get the people’s attention.

    Has your workout/diet changed since entering the draft?
    You really have to take care of your body. Your body is worth a lot. It’s worth millions if you treat it good. If you put in the right things and do the right things, work out hard, you can’t go wrong.

    Who do you believe will win the NBA Finals?
    Miami at first, but Dallas is really the problem so I don’t want to say yet. I don’t want to say until after tonight.

    What is some advice you’d like to pass on to others that will enter the draft?
    A lot of guys get it confused when they’re bringing you to the workout. When they bring you to the workout they already know about you. They just want to see what type of knowledge you have of the game, what you can do, how good of a shooter you are, how good of a dribbler you are – just isolate you in the practice environment and see how good you are. It’s been pretty competitive, but I’m not trying to get caught up in that. I’m looking out for myself and I want to do well and encourage others at the same time.


    Kyrylo Fesenko:
    What other teams have you done workouts with?
    I worked out with the Detroit Pistons, with Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers … and Chicago – they came to San Francisco where I’m staying and they saw me, too.

    What did you think of the workout?
    I didn’t enjoy it too much. Today’s workout, myself – I didn’t make at least one block. I had a bad time shooting and I lost to this big guy [Nicholson].

    We understand you’re a joker?
    I can play without jokes. The most fun was in Minnesota. I was feeling good. I was happy about something.

    When do you go back to the Ukraine?
    I have to get back [home] Sunday because I have to prepare with my team for the European championship.

    When do you think you’ll be picked?
    I hope someone will pick me in the first round. This is one of my dreams and I want to be in the draft before the other guy from Ukraine, Olexsiy Pecherov.

    What do you think about Milwaukee?
    I like this city. It’s small, not like these other towns. They don’t have a lot of traffic here. It’s perfect.

    Does it remind you of home?
    In Ukraine, no … we don’t have any freeways, but we also don’t have many cars.


    Vincent Grier:
    What have the workouts been like for you?
    Going through the process – training – it’s a dream come true. You get to see how the great players go through the process. It’s been great – family and friends you meet, especially. The friendship will last a lifetime.

    Is the draft process getting to you?
    You kind of get impatient because time is ticking down. Sometimes when you’re at home it seems like days are longer than what they are because you’re ready for it to get here, but you live it and hopefully it’ll be a good process. It’s been great! I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

    How well have your workouts been going?
    (My) workouts have been great. I’ve worked out with three teams so far and I’ve got four coming up this week. Hopefully I’ll continue to keep playing the way I know I can and stay healthy – and everything should work itself out.

    Did you take anything from your workout today?
    Just to continue to keep with intensity and no matter how (I’m) playing, keep going hard. Everything will work itself out in the end.

    What would you consider to be your strengths?
    I’ve been working on my range since I’ve been training. I’m a slasher. I can create for others and get in the hole and create some acrobatic shots because I’m a lefty – so it’s kind of hard trying to guard a lefty. That’s my strength.

    As you go through the draft, what skills are you improving?
    My set shots from the deep range. A couple mid-range [shots] and jumpers, and continue the consistency with my shot.

    When were you introduced to basketball?
    I started playing when I was five years old. I saw Michael Jordan on television plus he went to North Carolina. He’s from Wilmington. It’s been great watching him grow up and all of the North Carolina guys that have went through the Tar Heels. I grew up on the ACC even though I played in the Big Ten this year. The ACC has always been my heart.

    With the Finals going on, who do you believe will win the series?
    Dallas. They have a high-rifle power. They’re up 2-1 in the series and it looks like they have a little more firepower than Miami. They have everything that Miami doesn’t have right now.


    Yemi Nicholson:
    What did you think of the workout today?
    The coaches really put us through a good one – made us sweat. They put us through a whole bunch of different drills. It showed everybody’s strengths and weaknesses. I think they got the best of us in the workout.

    What other teams have you done workouts with?
    I’ve worked out with Sacramento, Toronto, Denver, both L.A. teams [Clippers and Lakers] so I’ve done a lot of workouts. I go to Washington this afternoon.

    Where do think you’ll go?
    I think the second half of the second round. I’m hoping to push that up a little bit, but we’ll see what happens because you never know until draft day.

    We understand you have some musical talents?
    I got a scholarship out of high school to go play [tenor] saxophone at a school called Fort Lewis College (Colorado).

    Did you play saxophone throughout high school?
    Yes, I played all four years in high school. I got cut from the [basketball] team in high school, so that’s what I was doing – playing saxophone and [jazz] piano. I got a scholarship to go to school for that and then I ended up at an open gym session at school. The coach saw me there and asked me to join the (Fort Lewis) team.

    Why were you cut from your high school team?
    I wasn’t what the coach was looking for.

    How did you end up playing basketball at the University of Denver?
    Same story. I was at an open gym (at the University of Denver) and the coach was there. Then he asked me and my parents if I wanted to join the team, so I said ‘Yeah!’

    Do you travel with your saxophone or keyboard?
    I don’t really play sax anymore. It’s too loud for my neighbors so I play my keyboard with my headphones on. I carry my keyboard around with me. I make kind of hip-hop beats on my computer so when I’m in my hotel room and traveling, I make beats on my computer.

    Have you ever thought about singing?
    You don’t want to hear me sing (laughs). My parents tell me to be quiet in church.

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