RSS Feed
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Highlights and Features
Draft Workouts - June 12
Brian Cook shows off his jumper as Celtic coach Jim O'Brien looks on.
|
Brian Cook is a 6-10, 240 pound forward, from Illinois. His senior season he was named Big 10 Player of the Year, while leading the conference in scoring (20.0 ppg). Cook has a solid inside/outside game and runs the court very well. He is projected anywhere from the late lottery to the early second round. Cooks dad, Norm, played for the Celtics in the 1979-80 season.
Celtics.com: How did your workout go today?
Cook: I thought it went real well, I thought I shot the ball well. There are a lot of things I need to work on, that I need to learn, but that will come.
Celtics.com: Where is your next workout?
Cook: Milwaukee.
Celtics.com: How has playing in the Big 10, being the Big 10 Player of the Year prepared you for the NBA?
Cook: I think its prepared me real well, you know having a younger team, carrying them on my back, and being the leader of that team, I had to get us out of tough situations sometimes. It's always going to be a tough situation in the NBA.
Celtics.com: You've been projected anywhere from late lottery to the early second round. Is it tough having so many uncertainties?
Cook: Its kind of tough, I just try to go into these workouts and work hard, give my best effort and let fate take its course.
Kendrick Perkins is an early entry candidate out of high school. The 6-10, 285 pound center played at Clifton J. Ozen High School, in Beaumont Texas. Perkins led his high school to a 96-3 record his final three seasons. He appeared in the 2003 McDonalds All-American Game, scoring 6 points and grabbing 5 boards in 12 minutes of play.
Celtics.com: How did your workout go today?
Perkins: I think it went great, I mean the first couple workouts I had for the Rockets and Spurs, I didn't know what to expect. I was a little out of shape, I tried hard, I think I did good but I could have done a little better, but I think I did alright.
Celtics.com: Was this workout similar to your other workouts?
Perkins: It was different. Every workout I've been to has just been different, so you never know what to expect, you always have to be ready and trained for whatever.
Celtics.com: What kinds of things do you need to concentrate on especially being a player coming out of high school?
Perkins: Well really it's just stepping up the tempo of your game, being able to run at the pace of the NBA, because it's a different level. You have to work on your stamina and conditioning.
Derrick Zimmerman played his college ball at Mississippi State. The point guard averaged 9.8 points and 5.1 assists per game his senior season. Zimmerman is known for his athleticism and ability to penetrate.
Celtics.com: How did your workout go today?
Zimmerman: It went well, it went real well, it was intense and I got a chance to go against some big guys, that was something different. But it was good.
Celtics.com: Have you had any other workouts?
Zimmerman: Yeah I worked out for New Jersey, Denver, and the Clippers.
Celtics.com: How did this workout compare to other workouts?
Zimmerman: Well it was some similar, I think that this workout here is more intense you know for what it's like, quick moving and everything. But it was good though.
Celtics.com: Where are you going from here?
Zimmerman: I work out for Atlanta next week. Phoenix, Indiana, Orlando, so I got a bunch coming up.
Celtics.com: Has playing in the Southeastern Conference prepared you for the NBA?
Zimmerman: Oh yeah, I think our conference is one of the best conferences in America, hands down. I mean you can look at it from top to bottom, from the number of teams we put in the tournament each year, to the number of players we put in the league. So, you've got to rank our conference up there.
Szymon Szewczyk is a 6-10 forward from Poland, but played last season in the German League. Szewczyk averaged 12.3 points per game in 2002-03, playing in Germany's top league. He is a good shooter who prefers to face the basket.
Celtics.com: How did your workout go today?
Szewczyk: It was tough for me because I have a leg injury right now, but it's alright. Also, you know the coach is good. All the guys did a good job, I'm happy that I come here.
Celtics.com: Has playing in Europe prepared you better for the NBA as compared to playing in college or high school in the U.S.?
Szewczyk: Yeah, I play in Germany, we have the third place team. I've won the player of the month in the German League. We play a very good season, so I think I'm ready to come and enjoy playing, but I don't know because it's the first time I come here to the states.
Celtics.com: What kind of things can you bring to a NBA team?
Szewczyk: I bring power, I don't give up. I always try to do things the best and I try to pump up my teammates. I don't quit and I always try to keep my teammates playing harder and harder. If we are doing something wrong, it does not mean that we are doing this bad, just more and harder work you know. Always give the hands to your friend from the team.
