By DeAndré Phillips
Miami, 06/17/09 University of Miami guard Jack McClinton headlined a group of NBA hopefuls during the HEATs pre-draft workout at the AmericanAirlines Arena on Wednesday. The former Hurricane standout joined Connecticut guard A.J. Price, UCLA forward Alfred Aboya, and LSU forward Chris Johnson for an intense tryout in front of several HEAT personnel which included HEAT President Pat Riley and Head Coach Erik Spoelstra.
McClinton, who is known for his slightly unconventional, but effective, shooting form, showed his range and touch during media availability. He later admitted that he was happy with his overall performance at the workout.
It went good, he said. I shot the ball well, played good defense, and competed. Thats what its all about coming to these workouts, compete, and show these guys what you can do. It was fun.
We did a lot of ball-screening, pick-and-roll stuff, he continued. Going into these camps, they want to see that. They know I can shoot the ball. They want to see if I can put the ball on the ground. Ive really been showing that in my workouts.
Afterward, McClinton, who set a ACC record by hitting 44 percent of his three-point attempts and became UMs all-time leader in three-pointers made, stayed back to get a few pointers from Spoelstra.
We were talking about my step-back, he said, how effective it is, and adding a counter-move to it when they start crowding my space, Ill be able to put my hands up and go by.
But luckily for him, the former UM standout had an inside track on what to expect, thanks to his good friend and South Kent Prep teammate, HEAT guard / forward Dorell Wright.
Dorell and I are almost neighbors, he said. We hang out everyday. We talk everyday. Basically, (he said) you just have to go in there with confidence, not try to make every shot, play your game, and good things will happen. We sat down the other day, ate at Montys, and we were just talking about the workouts, he continued. (He said) you just have to do what you do.
The HEAT holds the No. 43 and 60 selections, both second round picks, in next weeks draft. The 6-foot-1 McClinton is widely regarded as a combo guard, which can work both for and against a player. He has worked out for nearly half of the NBA teams with remaining workouts scheduled for Cleveland on Thursday and Phoenix on Saturday.
McClinton said hes not worried about wheres he drafted. Instead, he just wants to be on someones roster come opening day. And hes willing to do whatever it takes.
I hear a lot of my (draft) range being from 22 to 45, he said. My range is so far, but Ill work out for 15 more teams if I could Ill work out for all 30 teams. You have to come in work hard and hope for the best. The rest is out of your hands.