Draft Workouts - 6/22/09

Bucks Draft Central | Players | Quotes | Story

	Dante Cunningham – Villanova – Senior 4/22/87 – 6’8” – 230 lbs Averaged 16.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 38 games in 2008-09. Shot 52.5% from the field 69.7% the line. Named Big East Most Improved Player and Second Team All-Big East Selection. One of 15 finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy
	Paul Delaney – UAB – Senior 8/30/86 – 6’2” – 200 lbs Averaged 16.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 33 games in 2008-09. Shot 55.9% from the field, 37.3% from three and 77.2% the line. Named to All-Conference USA Second Team. Finished second in Conference USA in field-goal percentage.
	Jonny Flynn – Syracuse – Sophomore 2/6/89 – 6’0” – 195 lbs Averaged 17.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 38 games in 2008-09. Shot 46.0% from the field, 31.7% from three and 78.6% the line. Started all 73 games of his tenure, scoring in double figures in 64 contests. All-Big East Second Team, AP All-American Honorable Mention, All-District First Team and Finalist for the Bob Cousy Award. Set a school single-season record for minutes played (1,418) and tied the mark for games played (38).
	Brandon Jennings – Lottomatica Virtus Roma (Italy) 9/23/89 – 6’1” – 175 lbs Averaged 5.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 27 Italian League games for Lottomatica Virtus Roma in 2008-09. Shot 47.9% from the field, 20.7% from three and 64.5% the line. In Euroleague play, averaged 7.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 16 games. Earned the 2008 National Player of the Year honors from Naismith, Parade Magazine, EA Sports and Max Preps as a high school senior after averaging 35.5 points, 6.8 assists and 3.2 steals at Oak Hill Academy in 2007-08.
	Ty Lawson – North Carolina – Junior 11/3/87 – 6’0” – 195 lbs Averaged 16.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists in 35 games in 2008-09. Shot 53.2% from the field, 47.2% from three and 79.8% the line. Named to Final Four All-Tournament Team after helping lead UNC to the NCAA championship. Winner of the 2009 Bob Cousy Award, which honors the nation's top collegiate point guard. His 2.78 career assist-to-turnover ratio is the second-best mark in ACC history.
	Taylor Rochestie –  Washington State – Senior 7/1/85 – 6’1” – 190 lbs Averaged 13.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 33 games in 2008-09. Shot 39.2% from the field, 37.9% from three and 89.1% the line. Earned First Team All-Pacific-10 Conference honors Ranks on WSU all-time list in 3-point field goal percentage (third - .423), free throw percentage (10th - .794), assists average (11th - 3.34), assists (14th - 231) and 3-point field goals made (19th - 71).
	Kevin Rogers – Baylor – Senior 9/22/86 – 6’9” – 235 lbs Averaged 12.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 39 games in 2008-09. Shot 55.9% from the field and 62.8% the line. Named to Big 12 All-Tournament Team after averaging 13.0 points and 9.8 rebounds. Fifth player in school history to record 1,000 points and 800 rebounds in career.
	Jeff Teague – Wake Forest – Sophomore 6/10/88 – 6’2” – 180 lbs Averaged 18.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 31 games in 2008-09. Shot 48.5% from the field, 44.1% from three and 81.7% the line. Named AP All-American Honorable Mention and All-ACC Second Team after leading Wake Forest in assists (110), steals (58), three-point percentage and free throw percentage. Scored in double digits in his last 35 career games.

Check back to bucks.com for video and photos of today's workout. For instant updates follow us on Twitter (@bucks).

Dante Cunningham

On today’s workout…
“I think I did very well. The workout was real good and there some real good guys out there, so it was fun.”

On what he’d bring to the Bucks…
“Hard work, defense, rebounding, picking and popping on the offensive end, and I can guard the two, three and four.”

On what he needs to work on…
“Shooting the three consistently and ball handling.”

On future workouts…
“I go to Memphis tomorrow.”

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Paul Delaney

On today’s workout with Taylor Rochestie…
“The workout was good. It was very intense. Taylor came hard and it was a good push.”

On his performance...
“I think I did pretty good. I didn’t do as well on the defensive end because of a quad injury that I tweaked about two weeks ago, but I did pretty good. I kind of pushed myself through it and tried to do the best I can do.”

On what he’d bring to the Bucks…
“Energy, defense, a big point guard.”

On future workouts…
“I go to Portland tomorrow and then Boston after that.”

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Jonny Flynn

On going against Brandon Jennings…
“We’ve had about six or seven workouts together. I guess you can say he’s my traveling buddy, but it’s great. Being a competitor like I am, I want to go against the best. A lot of guys in the workout process don’t want to work out with other players or they want to work out by themselves. But going against a Ty Lawson, a Brandon Jennings, or a Jeff Teague brings the best out of you. I think that’s been great for me in going against a top name guy in every workout. It brings the best out of me.”

On what he’d bring to the Bucks…
“Just being a little guy that can create havoc on defenders. Being able to hide behind pick-and-rolls, get in the lane, weaving out of traffic and making it easier for a lot of guys. Getting Michael Redd his shots, dumping down the ball to Bogut, and things like that. I think I can make the game come easier to those guys.”

On the Bucks workout compared to other workouts…
“Everything was back-to-back. There weren’t really water breaks. We might have had one water break 45 minutes into the session and that was it. And that probably lasted about 10 seconds or so. The good thing about this workout is that it’s more built like an NBA training camp than a workout process.”

On future workouts…
“I had about eight or nine workouts so far. I think I have New Jersey tomorrow. Then I can relax, put my feet up and wait for the draft.”

On playing in so many workouts…
“It’s been tough. Being young, you’re not so used to traveling and playing the same day, and in consecutive days. But this is the NBA life. This is something you have to get used to really quick. It’s good to get used to it now and get the process out the way.”

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Brandon Jennings

On today’s workout…
 “I’m a little tired, a little fatigued. But overall, it was a pretty good workout.”

On how he’s changed since playing in Italy…
“My game is more mature now. I’m more calm. I’m more of a professional athlete now. I’m also more mature off the court. I’m a responsible adult now, and I take care of my business well. Playing in Italy was more like a job, so it was good for me. Just playing with 29, 30-year-old men and that experience was great for me. It was good for me and my family. No regrets at all. I got to play professional basketball for a whole year, and I played in the Euroleague, which is second-best to the NBA.”

On his experience in Italy…
“I’ve seen a lot, like the ups-and-downs that rookies have to go through. My first coach from Croatia was real tough. He put me through a lot of things that I’ll probably see this year. He would tell me to come in, lift weights and shoot 500 shots just to see what my reaction will be. Some days he’ll play me 26 minutes, the next day he’ll play me seven minutes. It was really good for me.”

On future workouts…
“I have New Jersey tomorrow. It’s my last one so I’m going to try and finish strong. I’ll see Jonny Flynn there too. It’s been fun though. He’s a real competitor.”

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Ty Lawson

On today’s workout…
“Here and Minnesota were the toughest workouts I’ve had. It was a good workout playing against Jonnie Flynn, Jeff Teague and Brandon Jennings to test me and see where I’m at. It was fun. A lot of talent was out there.”

On his performance…
“I think I did very well. I shot the ball from the 3-point line well, got into the lane, made good decisions, and my team won most of the games. So, I think I had one of the top performances in the workout.”

On what separates him from the other guards…
“Me and my team (North Carolina) won a national championship. I can also shoot the three and play good defense. I do all the things the coaches are looking for in a point guard. I’m also a leader, and I think I’m one of the top point guards in this draft.”

On being smaller than most point guards…
“It doesn’t bother me. I’ve been playing this height since I was a senior in high school. I’ve been successful so far. People said I couldn’t play because of my height in college but I just keep proving people wrong. I didn’t know it was a height requirement to play in the NBA.”

On future workouts…
“I’m going to Portland right after this. Then Atlanta. So I’ll be working right up to the NBA Draft.”

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Taylor Rochestie

On today’s workout with Paul Delaney…
“It felt good. They put me through a tough workout. It was good going against Paul. I had a good time. Just happy to be here.”

On his performance…
“I think I did pretty good. They put me through a lot of one-on-one stuff with Paul, making me play offense and defense. It was going to look bad if I didn’t come ready to play. It was just good to get the workout in.”

On what he’d bring to the Bucks…
“A person that can help the team win by any means necessary, a true point guard that can distribute the ball and also score when he gets the chance. I can also bring a lot of toughness.”

Kevin Rogers

On today’s workout…
“It was a great workout. Anytime you can play with some of the country’s best, you’re definitely all in for a great hour and thirty minutes.”

On his performance…
“I did well. I was able to get up and down, get some guys open for some shots, make some shots for myself and grab a few rebounds, giving my team extra possessions. I felt I played pretty good.”

On what he’d bring to the Bucks…
“Rebounding and a defensive presence. I can score on the block, and play well from 15 to 19 feet. I’m pretty good off the bounce. I think I can bring a little bit of everything.”

On future workouts…
“Actually this is my last one. This was my seventeenth workout and my fifth in five days.”

Jeff Teague

On today’s workout…
“It was a lot of fun. Everyone was out there working out hard. It was a rough workout being only one water break but we enjoyed it.”

On working out with other top prospects…
“This was the toughest workout I’ve had so far. It was competitive and we went hard. Everybody was fighting and trying to impress the coaches because they (the Bucks) might select a point guard. We all knew that we might be playing in this spot one day and we all want to be here.”

On playing for the Bucks…
“It’d be an excellent fit. It’s closer to home. I’m from the Midwest. Plus, they have a great system. They have a great coach. Scott Skiles was a point guard. He’s tough on his guards and that’s something I think I need. Somebody that’s going to get in your head, wants you to do well, and wants his team to do well. That’s what I need.”

On what he’d bring to the Bucks…
“Energy, a will to win and a will to work.”

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Massive Point Guard Workout

By Cherome Owens

Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Deron Williams…and Jonny Flynn?

Flynn may not be an NBA All-Star yet, but he was one of the big name point guards that took part in the Bucks workout on Monday morning.

The six-foot guard from Syracuse was joined by Brandon Jennings (Lottomatica Virtus Roma-Italy, 6-1, 175), Ty Lawson (North Carolina, junior, 6-0, 195) and Jeff Teague (Wake Forest, sophomore, 6-2, 180). Forwards Dante Cunningham (Villanova, senior, 6-8, 230) and Kevin Rogers (Baylor, senior, 6-9, 235) also participated in the hour and a half workout.

Paul Delaney (UAB, senior, 6-2, 200) and Taylor Rochestie (Washington State, senior, 6-1, 190) also were in attendance on Monday, but because only six players are allowed on the court at once, the two took part in a separate workout. 

After the workouts, Bucks Director of Scouting Billy McKinney said no player in particular stood out after Monday.

“They all had great workouts,” McKinney said. “Each of them had their moments. That’s why we’re so excited about this group coming in. We weren’t so sure if we could get them all in with the draft being on Thursday. But they all were excited being here, and it showed.”

“People in the business like to say ‘He has a tremendous amount of upside,’ but all the players we brought in today have great upside and have a chance to have a great NBA career.”

With four projected first round point guards on the floor at one time, the players knew they had to bring their best game. Flynn, who already had numerous workouts with Brandon Jennings, said playing with tougher competition makes him better.

“(Brandon and I) have already had about six or seven workouts together, so I guess you can say he’s my traveling buddy, but it’s great,” Flynn said. “Being a competitor like I am, I want to go against the best. A lot of guys in the workout process don’t want to work out with other players or they want to work out by themselves. But going against a Ty Lawson, a Brandon Jennings or a Jeff Teague brings the best out of you. I think that’s been great for me in going against a top name guy every workout. It brings the best out of me.”

Jennings said he also enjoyed working out with Flynn today, but the Bucks’ workout was more difficult than others. With just one water break, the speedy guard said he was “a little tired” and “a little fatigued” after Monday’s exercises. Teague said the Bucks workout was his hardest yet. And going up against the top point guards in the draft added to it.

“This was the toughest workout I’ve had so far,” Teague said. “It was competitive and we went hard. Everybody was fighting and trying to impress the coaches because they (the Bucks) might select a point guard. We all knew that we might be playing in this spot one day and we all want to be here.”

Each guard complimented Bucks coach Scott Skiles’ system and how much they would love to play for the Bucks. Flynn said he can learn a lot from Skiles, a former point guard, and with a good team already intact, he can lead them back into the playoffs.

“They have a nice core of guys like Michael Redd, Richard Jefferson and Andrew Bogut,” Flynn said. “If it weren’t for some injuries last year, they could have been a different team. They have the right pieces to the puzzle, and I think I can be a great fit in a situation like this.”

The other top point guards in the draft also think they can fit in with the Bucks.

“The Bucks need a point guard, so I think everybody was going a little extra hard today,” Lawson said. “Trying to show their best and what they’re able to do. This is a draft where you can get a point guard and be set for a couple of years. Every point guard in this draft is very good. This will probably be known as one of the top drafts for point guards.”

And in an extremely guard-heavy draft, the Bucks may end up selecting one of the floor leaders at Monday’s workout with the No. 10 pick on Thursday. The Bucks have worked out 57 prospects so far, and with the NBA Draft just three days away, there are still a few more players the Bucks will take a closer look at on Tuesday at the Cousins Center.

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