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Clippers Hold Two Workouts Monday Before Draft

LOS ANGELES – UNLV guard Patrick McCaw, then an incoming freshman, watched as the Clippers practiced at training camp in Las Vegas two years ago, hoping one day he’d find himself in that same situation playing for an NBA team.

In three days, that could become a reality for McCaw and the rest of the college prospects hoping to hear their names called at the NBA Draft. 

“It’s kind of weird to think that it’s actually finally here,” McCaw said. “It’s just something I’ve always watched as a kid. Now that it’s my opportunity, it’s just amazing.”

McCaw was part of the second wave of two workouts the Clippers held Monday, and he could end up the earliest pick of any of the 11 players who took part in those workouts, with some projecting McCaw to be a late first-round selection.

For a guard who’s always considered himself an underdog, he’s come a long way from the kid watching Clippers practices at training camp.

McCaw remembers trying to pick out parts of Chris Paul’s pick-and-roll game as he watched along. When the Clippers entered the facility, he wanted to give them their space. But he mustered up the courage to say hello to Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan in the weight room.

In just a few days, it’s possible those are his teammates.

“It’s just crazy,” McCaw said. “These are guys you do crazy stuff on 2k with. Now that you’re running alongside them or playing against them, it’s hard to believe that I have that opportunity.”

Six players participated in the first workout Monday and five joined the second, including McCaw’s UNLV teammate, Stephen Zimmerman, another player likely to hear his name called come Thursday. Here’s a quick look at all 11 players who worked out for the Clippers:   

Group 1:

Jarrod Uthoff Iowa | Forward

There’s a lot to like about the athletic 6-9 forward with a nice wingspan, range from the perimeter and shot-blocking ability. Uthoff averaged 18.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game as a senior last year and averaged more than a block per game each season in college. The unanimous First Team All-Big 10 selection isn’t sure where he’ll be watching the draft, but there’s a good chance he hears his name called at some point.

“I’ve loved every second of it, traveling to different cities, playing the game you love – there’s not much better than that,” Uthoff said. “I’m looking forward to the next step, because that’s kind of the culmination of all I’ve worked for, but at the same time I’ve enjoyed this whole process.”

Alex Poythress Kentucky | Forwward

Poythress averaged double digits in scoring and six rebounds per game both his freshman and senior years. His leadership traits are evident, as the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Player of the Year Award for his contributions on and off the court, and his 10.2 points per game led Kentucky’s frontcourt this year. The 6-8, 230-pound forward shot 60.1 percent from the floor, but it’s on the defensive end Poythress feels he can make an immediate impact.

“I can be very versatile,” Poythress said. “I can guard almost every position, so I just try to use that to my advantage – just guarding, playing defense and being physical.”

Poythress has already gone through 12 workouts and has another one Wednesday in Boston just before the draft. Then, he’ll finally get to head home and see family for the first time in months. Poythress said knowing his goal is right in front of him is enough to keep him pushing through each workout.

“I feel like it’s a stepping stone to where I’m trying to get,” Poythress said.

Jake Layman Maryland | Forward

Projected by many to be a second-round selection, Layman is one of just 12 players in school history with at least 1,400 career points and 600 career rebounds. Layman averaged 11.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game his senior year and averaged at least 11 points and five rebounds each of the last three seasons, shooting better than 36 percent from 3-point range in each of those three years.

Retin Obasohan Alabama | Guard

After averaging 6.2 points per game in his junior campaign, Obasohan broke out with 17.6 points per game his senior year while serving as Alabama’s co-captain. The guard started all 33 games and was named First Team All-SEC by the coaches and to the SEC All-Defensive Team, leading the Tide in points, minutes, steals and free throws made and attempted while also posting career highs in rebounds (3.8) and assists (2.6).

Craig Sword Mississippi State | Guard

The senior guard averaged double digits in scoring and at least a steal per game each season at Mississippi State. Sword struggled from long range (23.2 percent his senior year), but contributed at both ends in addition to dishing out three assists per game.

Markus Kennedy SMU | Forward

Kennedy made a sizable jump from his freshman to sophomore year, which was actually his best season offensively at SMU, averaging 12.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Kennedy would go on to average 11.9 points per game his junior year and 9.3 points per game last season while dishing out a career high 2.2 assists per game and tying a career high with 1.2 blocks per game as a senior.

Group 2:

Patrick McCaw UNLV | Guard

The sophomore could end up the earliest draft pick of the players who worked out Monday for the Clippers. McCaw finished second in the nation in steals with 2.5 per game last season to go with 14.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. McCaw also shot better than 36 percent from 3-point range in each of his two seasons at UNLV, leaving plenty of desirable traits for teams to develop.

The traveling from city to city for pre-draft workouts can be tiring for any player, and McCaw said that’s particularly the case when he gets a bad seat on a flight. But he’s taking care of his body and prepared for the workouts, and he said he feels great about his skillset after going through the workouts and where he’s at a few days before the draft.

“I feel like me being so versatile, I’m able to defend the ball, I’m able to score it, and my skillset’s only going to continue to get better,” McCaw said. “I think that’s why teams like me, they think I have a very high ceiling. I just continue to work and my skillset shows that I put the time and effort in.”

Stephen Zimmerman UNLV | Center

The only freshman at Monday’s workout, Zimmerman said he felt like now was the time for him to enter the NBA Draft and “learn from the best and get stronger and bigger.” Standing a tick over 6-11, Zimmerman is projected by many to be an early-second round selection after averaging 10.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and two blocks as a freshman.

But the immediate success doesn’t shake the inevitable nerves as Thursday’s draft approaches.

“I would say I’m very nervous,” Zimmerman said. “I mean, I was super excited looking into it and everything and then the process started and the next thing you know it’s two or three days away. It came pretty fast, but slow at the same time, if that makes sense. I mean, I’m excited, but mostly nervous.”

James Woodard Tulsa | Guard

Woodard averaged double digits in scoring every season, shooting better than 35 percent from 3-point range and averaging more than 14 points per game each of his final three years. He improved as a distributor his senior year, averaging a career-high 2.4 assists per game, and despite standing 6-3 was able to bring down more than four rebounds per game every year in college.

Alex Hamilton Louisiana Tech | Guard

He appeared in 140 games for Louisiana Tech, earning Conference USA Player of the Year honors last season and finishing his career as the all-time winningest player in program history.

The 6-4 guard filled the stat sheet averaging 19.8 points, 6.2 assists and 5.7 rebounds and two steals per game his senior year but struggles from deep, hitting fewer than 30 percent of his shots from long range every season. He makes up for that by attacking the rim, getting to the line 8.4 times per game last season and shooting better than 70 percent from the line all four seasons.

Tony Parker UCLA | Forward

The 6-9 forward saw his minutes – and his production – increase every season at UCLA. At 260 pounds, Parker used his frame to average 12.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and a block per game his senior season.