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WALTHAM, Mass. – Versatility was one of the defining factors of the Boston Celtics’ success this past season. Acquiring the likes of Evan Turner, Jae Crowder and Jonas Jerebko allowed the C’s to attack the opposition in an unorthodox and unpredictable manner. And it worked.
If they want to add even more versatility to their system during this year’s draft, then they may have found their guy on Wednesday, when they brought in UCLA’s Kevon Looney for a workout at their training facility in Waltham, Mass.
There may not be a more versatile player on the board than the 6-foot-9 wing/forward, who led all freshmen in rebounding during his first and only season with the Bruins.
“For a 19-year-old kid he’s got a lot of tools, got a really good frame and had a good freshman year,” Celtics director of player personnel Austin Ainge said following the workout. “I just think the combination of length and skill is unique.”
That skill also includes keen ball handling technique, which was fully on display during his high school career. As a 6-9 senior during his 2013-14 season at Hamilton High (Milwaukee, Wis.), Looney ran the point and averaged 27.9 points, 12.7 rebounds, 8.0 blocks and 7.0 assists per contest.
His game translated well into a power forward role at the collegiate level; last season Looney averaged 11.6 PPG and 9.2 RPG. His 331 rebounds and 15 double-doubles were tops among collegiate freshmen.
Because of his versatility, Looney believes he can “fit in pretty well with [the Celtics]. I think versatile players are needed and I think I can be one of those guys.”
He also brings some unteachable assets to the table, such as his 7-3½ wingspan. In a pre-draft interview with the C’s, UCLA coach Steve Alford said that because of Looney’s length, coupled with his extraordinary work ethic, “You’re just looking at somebody I think that’s going to be a really good pro for a long time.”
But if he wants to excel in the league, Looney will need more than just length. He needs to bulk up and add muscle to his 222-pound frame in order to hang with the NBA bigs.
He dominated smaller teams last season, but lacking a strong set of post moves, Looney struggled against opponents that featured larger bigs, such as Arizona and Kentucky.
“At UCLA they told me to maintain my weight,” said Looney. “I was 220 when I got there, they told me to keep it for my age. But I think I could put on weight pretty easily and it’s something I’m going to try to do.”
He believes that bulking up would increase his versatility even more.
“I think it would help me a lot,” said Looney. “Just being able to hold my ground, be able to take the bumps and just being able to withstand the grind of a whole season.”
He’ll also have to prove that he can consistently and confidently shoot the 3.
During the first 24 games of UCLA’s season, Looney was just 9-of-28 from beyond the arc. However, he found his stroke and nailed 13-of-25 during his final 12 contests.
“I could always shoot it, but at the beginning of the season I shot the ball terrible,” said Looney. “But as I got more comfortable… I just got more confident and I started making them.”
As long as Looney carries that shooting confidence with him to the NBA; as long as he bulks up and adds some post moves to his repertoire, he could eventually establish himself as one of the most versatile players in the league.
Looney’s potential is through the ceiling. He just needs to put in the work to get there.
Small workout boosts intensity
After Boston featured six players in each of its previous workouts, only four draft-hopefuls were in attendance during Wednesday’s session.
Joined by Looney were forwards Brandon Ashley (Arizona), JayVaughn Pinkston (Villanova) and Maurice Ndour (Ohio). It was also the first time any of the four had experienced such a small workout.
Ndour, a native of Senegal who grew up idolizing the C’s, said there were “definitely a lot of reps… more intensity, very competitive, but then again we were able to push each other and help each other on the court.”
Ashley, who played alongside projected first-round forwards Stanley Johnson and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson at Arizona, said that the increased energy was due to more 1-on-1 situations.
“When it’s just you and one other guy out there, you definitely don’t want him to score and you don’t want him to stop you,” Ashley said. “So it was really intense and extremely competitive.”
Harnessing that intensity and competitiveness during their workouts is vital for the Waltham invitees, as they attempt to prove their worth to the Celtics organization. After all, any of their names could printed on the back of a green and white jersey next fall, and Boston needs all the drive it can get from its youth as it aims to make it over the hump and strive for title contention next season.