Draft Workouts - 6/9/09

Players | Quotes | Story

	Alfred Aboya – UCLA – Senior 1/2/85 – 6’9” – 245 lbs Averaged 9.9 points and 6.3 rebounds 35 games in 2008-09. Shot 54.2% from the field and 69.5% from the line. One of three UCLA players to start in all 35 games during the 2008-09 season (Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday are the others). Led the Bruins in both field goal percentage, 54.2%, and rebounds, 6.3.
	Jrue Holiday – UCLA – Freshman 6/12/90 – 6’3” – 180 lbs Averaged 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 35 games in 2008-09. Shot 45.0% from the field, 30.7% from three and 72.6% from the line. Named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team in 2009. Selected as the 2008 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year as a high school senior.
	Mac Koshwal – DePaul – Sophomore 6’10” – 255 lbs Averaged 12.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 32 games in 2008-09. Shot 51.3% from the field and 56.5% from the line. Holds the 12th-highest rebounding average and 13th-highest field goal percentage in school history. First freshman in school history to serve as team captain (2007-08).
	Eric Maynor – VCU – Senior 6/11/87 – 6’3” – 175 lbs Averaged 22.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 34 games in 2008-09. Shot 46.3% from the field, 36.1% from three and 81.5% from the line. VCU’s all-time leader in points (1,953), assists (674), games played (130) and free throws made (503). Named CAA Player of the Year after both his junior and senior seasons.
	Jerel McNeal – Marquette – Senior 6/1/87 – 6’3” – 200 lbs Averaged 19.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 35 games in 2008-09. Shot 44.0% from the field, 39.8% from three and 71.7% from the line. Named Second Team All-American by The Associated Press and All-Big East First Team. Ranks first all-time at Marquette in points (1,985), steals (287) and games played (130).
	Greivis Vasquez – Maryland – Junior 1/16/87 – 6’6” – 190 lbs Averaged 17.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 35 games in 2008-09. Shot 40.5% from the field, 32.7% from three and 86.7% from the line. Names Second Team All-ACC after both his sophomore and junior seasons. Led the Terrapins in points, rebounds, assists, steals and minutes, becoming the first player in school history to do so and only the sixth in ACC history.

Check back to bucks.com for video and photos of today's workout. More workouts are scheduled for Thursday, June 11th. Stay tuned for details. For instant updates follow us on Twitter (@bucks).

Alfred Aboya

On today’s workout…
“I feel great. We did a lot of running. I felt like it was an actual two-hour practice because we never really had a break. The breaks were really quick and we had to go from this drill to that drill. But overall, it was a great workout.”

On what he’d bring to the Bucks…
“I’m a hustler. I like to rebound and take charges. Being vocal on defense and offense, and just the little things. All the little things that help your team win.”

On future workouts…
“I’m going to Detroit after this.”

On his interest in politics…
“I’m definitely interested in politics and want to become president of the Cameroon someday. I got my degree in international relations and now I’m getting my masters in public policy with an emphasis in diplomacy.”

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Jrue Holiday

On today’s workout…
“I think I could have played better. I wasn’t knocking down my jump shot and finishing the way I wanted to. So, I definitely could’ve played better.”

On what he’d bring to the Bucks…
“Intensity, energy, competitiveness, leadership and the will to win. I think every team needs that.”

On his strengths and weaknesses…
“Definitely defense. I still believe I’m a great shooter. I just need to become better at finishing around the basket.”

On future workouts…
“I go to New York next.”

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Mac Koshawl

On today’s workout…
“It went alright. I felt like I could have done better. I was a little off today. I felt like my performance was a letdown, but I’m okay.”

On his strengths…
“Just being a strong, big guy who can run the floor.”

On what he’d bring to the Bucks…
“I can bring a lot on the defensive end. I try to be a defender and rebounder, and I bring a lot of heart.”

On future workouts…
“I’m not sure what’s up next. My coach hasn’t told me yet. I haven’t decided if I’m staying in the draft or if I’m going back to school (for my senior year).”

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Eric Maynor

On today’s workout…
 “It went good. There was a lot of new stuff here compared to the other workouts. I think it went real good.”

On his performance today…
“I think I played well on both ends, the offensive and defensive. I think I had great intensity, and I went hard the whole time. I think I did a good job.”

On what he’d bring to the Bucks…
“A true point guard, somebody that can make the game easier for their team, and a great locker room guy.”

On future workouts…
“I go to a group workout in New Jersey this weekend and a few more afterward.”

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Jerel McNeal

On today’s workout…
“I felt like it went pretty good overall. Going through the skills drills and having a chance to compete at the end, I felt like it everything went good.”

On what he’d bring to the Bucks…
“I think it’d be a situation where I’d be able to come in and bring good playmaking ability on the offensive end of the floor. Get others involved and knock down open shots. I can be a real spark on defense. Get some stops and defend my man, get steals and things like that.”

On future workouts…
“I have three next week. I got Chicago, Charlotte and Cleveland.”

On the possibility of playing for the Bucks…
“It’d be like I never left. I’d be in the same city, but just playing for a different organization. Playing for them would be a really good experience.”

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Greivis Vasquez

On today’s workout…
“To be honest, this was one of my best workouts so far. I thought I shot the ball extremely well. I played really hard, and I was really excited to play against guys like Eric Maynor and Jrue Holiday and everybody that was on the court today. So it was fun overall.”

On what he’d bring to the Bucks…
“I’ll bring my energy. My passion for the game. I just try to get better everyday. I’m a point guard, but I can also be a combo guard. I will try to make guys better. I can support the guys in the game and from the bench.”

On future workouts…
“I got four more. I’m going to Toronto, Detroit and New Jersey. I finish up in Philly. Then I’ll make a decision on whether I’m staying in the draft or going back to school.”

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Four point guards and two big men work out on Day 5

By Cherome Owens

The UCLA tour at the Cousin Center continued on Tuesday morning.

After Friday’s workout with Josh Shipp, not one, but two Bruins stopped by to showcase their talents along with a familiar Marquette Golden Eagle.

Alfred Aboya (UCLA, 6’9, 245, senior) and projected first round lottery selection Jrue Holiday (UCLA, 6’3, 180, freshman) were joined by local collegiate standout Jerel McNeal (Marquette, 6’3, 200, senior) for the first series of workouts this week. The other NBA hopefuls in attendance were Eric Maynor (VCU, 6’3, 175, senior), Greivis Vasquez (Maryland, 6’6, 190, junior) and Mac Koshwal (DePaul, 6’10, 255, sophomore).

On the floor, the prospects ran through vertical leap tests, offensive drills, ballhandling exercises and half-court competition. Although Aboya admitted that he wasn’t the most talented among the prospects, he was quick on the boards and did all the little things during the three-on-three contests, resembling an old college roommate of his.

“Me and Luc (Richard Mbah a Moute) came a long way,” Aboya said. “We grew up together and lived in the same environment, so we understand what’s expected of us. We both like to hustle and do all the little things that help the team win.”

Mbah a Moute said he spent time with Aboya the day before his workout with the Bucks. Although both players work hard, they have different styles of play. Aboya spends most of his time dominating the paint.

“He’s different than me but he’s a very good player,” Mbah a Moute said. “He works hard and he developed his game better this year. I think he’s a very hard defender, especially on the post. He can play inside-out and can guard multiple positions just like me. I think he’ll be a good player to have on any team.”

Mbah a Moute and Aboya, who both hail from Yaoundé, Cameroon, helped UCLA reach three consecutive Final Fours (2006-2008). Mbah a Moute said Aboya is as good on the court as he is off of it. 

“Living with Alfred was probably one of the best times I’ve had in my life,” Mbah a Moute said. “Being in college is always fun, but when you have a guy like Alfred to live with, he just makes your life so much easier. He’s a guy that makes you a better person.

“He always had advice for me and plus he understands where I’m coming from because we’re both from the same country. So, it’s always easy for me to relate to him or talk to him when anything was going wrong or good.”

Holiday, who is perhaps the biggest name to work out with the Bucks thus far, entered his name into the draft after one year at UCLA. As a freshman last season with the Bruins, Holiday didn’t get a chance to play with Mbah a Moute, who was already making a name for himself in the NBA. However, he did play with the Bucks forward last summer and wouldn’t mind following in his footsteps. He said he didn’t play his best basketball Tuesday morning, but knows what he needs to do to get better.

“It’d be a dream come true to play in NBA,” Holiday said. “I think I could have played better today. I wasn’t knocking down my jump shot and finishing the way I wanted to. So, I definitely could’ve played better.”

Although Holiday struggled with his shot most of the day, he was incredible on defense. Even the Bucks front office staff called him “the best defensive point guard” in the draft. Tuesday wasn’t going to be easy for Holiday, as he was matched up with solid offensive and defensive guards like Maynor, Vasquez and McNeal.

McNeal, the all-time leading scorer at Marquette, had one of the best performances of the day. McNeal was the victor of the first one-on-one contest, going up against Vasquez. The Second Team All-American looked strong in the second contest as well, going up against Vasquez, but Koshwal was the first to make three baskets out of the group.

After the workout, McNeal said he wouldn’t mind staying in the same city where he enjoyed much success for the Golden Eagles.

“It’d be like I never left,” McNeal said. “I’d be in the same city, but just playing for a different organization. Playing for them would be a really good experience.”

Eric Maynor, a prolific scorer and a projected first round draft pick, and Vasquez proved to be the best shooters of the day, dominating most of the offensive drills, such as the elbow-to-elbow shooting contest. 

In the three-on-three games, Aboya, Holiday and Vasquez squared off against Koshwal, Maynor and McNeal. One of the highlights during the competition was Aboya’s dunk off an alley-oop pass from Vasquez. McNeal showed off his shot-making ability by nailing a string of jumpshots in two straight wins for his team. 

After another competitive day of workouts, Bucks Director of Player Personnel Dave Babcock gave his perspective on each player:

Alfred Aboya – “He’s a physical defender. You can see why he was so good at UCLA. He fits into their mold. I think he’ll go to Europe and make some good money playing basketball.”

Jrue Holiday – “The great thing about Jrue is that he’s got enough size for an NBA point guard. There’s a lot of projections for him being chosen in the lottery. He’s definitely a lottery pick. He was okay today. It’s not that he wasn’t on his game. He just didn’t make shots. He’s just a natural defender. He’s physical. He’s got good lateral movements. His fundamentals and his instincts defensively are very good. Definitely the best defender out of all the point guards in the draft.”

Mac Koshwal – “My understanding is that he’ll go back to school. But I was impressed. He’s a guy that we definitely need to make sure we watch closely next year.”

Eric Maynor – “He’s a tough kid. A slasher. He’s sort of like a smaller version of Ramon Sessions. He loves to get to the hole. He’s very crafty, but not as big. Shooting range is suspect and his size is not great. But he’s good. I like him. So, I would say he’s a late first rounder.”

Jerel McNeal – “I think Jerel played very well today. He’s not normally a great shooter, but he did make shots. He’s such a tough guy, a great defender. Let’s be honest, he’s not going to be there at the 41st pick for us anyway and he wouldn’t make sense for us if he was. But he had a good workout. I was very impressed with him.”

Greivis Vasquez – “He’s a Venezuelan kid who must decide on whether he’s staying in the draft or going back to school by Monday. He was very good though. He impressed us with his workout. He’s a tough kid, a good decision maker, and he’s got nice size. If he stays in, he’ll be a late first or early second round pick for sure.”

The Bucks will continue workouts on Thursday so be sure to continue following Bucks.com for the latest on draft news and workouts.

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