Bobcats Draft Workouts - Day 2June 18, 2012
Draft Workout Gallery | Video: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | Video: Bradley Beal | Video: Quincy Acy | Video: Darius Johnson-Odom | Video: Kris Joseph | Video: Bernard James
The Bobcats continued their 2012 NBA Draft Workouts on June 18, 2012 at Time Warner Cable Arena® with prospects Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky), Bradley Beal (Florida), Quincy Acy (Baylor), Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette), Kris Joseph (Syracuse) and Bernard James (Florida State) in front of Bobcats Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Jordan, President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins, and General Manager Rich Cho.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - A key player in the Wildcat’s 2011-2012 championship pursuit. As a freshmen Kidd-Gilchrist racked in 11.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg and 1 spg. He was selected Second Team USBWA All-American and Third Team NABC All-American. Named NCAA Tournament South Region Most Outstanding Player. Finished as a top-15 and top-30 finalist for the Wooden and Naismith player of the year awards, respectively.
Bradley Beal - In only one season at Florida, Beal averaged 14.8 ppg, 6.7 rbg and 2.2 apg. Beal is the first Gator to be named First-Team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshmen in the same season. He was also named to the NCAA West Region All-Tournament Team and All-SEC Tournament Team. As a high school senior in 2011, Beal earned the Gatorade National Player of the Year award and was a McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All-American.
Quincy Acy - Averaged 9.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 1.3 bpg in four seasons at Baylor University. In his senior season, Acy unanimously earned Big 12 All-Defensive Team and an All-Big 12 Second Team selection. The second player in program history ranked in Top 10 in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and field goal percentage. Racked up 100 victories during his collegiate career, the most in program history.
Darius Johnson-Odom - Earned First Team-All-Big East honors as a senior and an Honorable Mention All-American selection by The Associated Press. Johnson-Odom lead Marquette in scoring his junior and senior seasons with 15.8 ppg and 18.3 ppg. Earned Second Team All-Big East honors as a junior and Marquette’s Defensive Player of the Year award as a sophomore.
Kris Joseph - Is one of 55 players in school history to score over 1,000 points in his career. Earned First Team All-Big East honors as a senior. Was named Big East Sixth Man of the Year as a sophomore.
Bernard James - In the 2011-2012 season he averaged 10.8 ppg, 8.1 rbg and 2.3 bpg. Ranks second in Florida State’s history in field goal percentage (.627), and third in blocked shots (164) in only two seasons. As a senior, James earned the Most Courageous Award by the United States Basketball Writers of America and ACC All-Defensive team. He also earned All-ACC Honorable Mention.
(On the workout)
It was a good workout for the most part; we got a lot of shots up today. I just had fun.
(On matching up with Bradley Beal)
Yes. I love competing.
(On people complimenting his motor)
It’s all about heart and winning basketball games to me. That’s what I’m about.
(On how he can help the Bobcats)
I can help them. I’m a winner. I’m a winner.
(On the chances of landing with the Bobcats)
High. but I don’t know.
(On what fans are going to see from him)
My defense and my motor.
(On how winning a national championship will help him in the NBA)
A lot. I love winning.
(On seeing Kemba at the workouts)
Good. He’s a hometown kid. It’s my dream to be out here.
(On comparing this workout to the Wizards’)
It was the same.
(On where he’s headed next)
I’m going to Cleveland, Ohio next. I workout on Wednesday.
(On the workout)
It was great. Going up against everyone was fun. Everyone is competing and playing very hard. Everyone did a good job.
(On matching up with Kidd-Gilchrist in the workout)
It was great. We both got after it on both ends, even my defense on his offense. We’re both competitors and we got after it today.
(On what he wants to showcase at workouts)
My ability to create off the dribble for my teammates and for myself. My defensive ability as well.
(On studying the Bobcats and how he might fit)
I haven’t done much studying for any team. For the rest of this week and early next week I’ll start doing that with my agent.
(On teams wanting working him out as a combo guard)
Almost every workout was similar. There was a lot of ball-handling involved, especially Washington and this one. They had drills where I came off screens and show what I’ll do in certain situations. Overall I think I did very well.
(On how working out with Kidd-Gilchrist is)
We’re laughing and joking around but competing at the same time. We’re encouraging each other to play hard and accomplish our dream. We want to continue getting better because we’re not content with where we are.
(On his chances of landing with the Bobcats)
I have no idea. Wherever I may land I’ll be happy, regardless. I’m just going make the most of it.
(On if there’s any added pressure with Michael Jordan watching the workout)
No, not really because I played in his Jordan Classic game a year and a half ago so I’m used to it. Of course, when you see him over there you’re aware of it but at the same time when you’re working out, he’s just a normal person in the gym.
(On his confidence of going in the top four)
Yes, my agent and I discussed that. Everyone has told me I’m going high so I hope to fit in with one those teams.
(On his comparison to Ray Allen)
I’m enjoying it. It’s an honor because he’s the greatest shooter to ever play the game. To even be mentioned in the same category as him is a big honor for me. At the same time I have a lot of work to do because I’m not on his level yet; so I have to just keep shooting the ball and keep getting better everyday.
(On how important rebounding is)
It’s very important. You hardly ever see guards rebounding. It’s an easy way to start your offense and score easy points. Our team in Florida really needed it because we had a lack of big men so I took it upon myself to do that. I enjoy rebounding.
(On the workout)
I think it went well. I played against some great competition.
(On the mix of shooting guards and power forwards in the workout)
I liked it. It’s a good chance to go against some of the better players in the draft and show what you got and see what they got.
(On what he’s trying to showcase at the workouts)
I try to show my high energy. I don’t try to go out there and do things I don’t know how to do. I just play hard, compete and defend.
(On how he would fit in with the Bobcats)
I think I’ll be a good spark off the bench for a young team that’s looking to rebuild. I think I could provide a spark, come in and have a competitive edge.
(On potentially playing for Jordan)
That would be an honor, definitely.
(On If there’s any added pressure with Michael Jordan watching the workout)
No. I don’t look on the sideline while I’m playing. When I walk off and see him it’s definitely humbling.
(On the workout)
It was a great workout. I got to compete against a lot of great guys with different personalities. Overall it was a great workout for everyone.
(On working out with bigger name guys)
It’s just basketball to me - I just go out there and play. Everyone is in a different position, so you have to just come out here, be yourself and play basketball.
(On being home)
I’ve been home for a week. Being from Raleigh, it’s a good feeling to be in the area again.
(On what he can bring to the Bobcats)
I can bring aggressive play on both ends of the court. I can bring a player with a lot of passion, a great personality and some one who just wants to win. I can bring it everyday in practice and a competitor who’s going to give it his all.
(On his explosiveness in the alley-oop drill)
I just try to do what I can with my stature. But like I said it was great workout for myself and other players.
(On having Michael Jordan watching him during workouts)
I think everyone has that sense of when he is in the gym. You might not notice it, but I think everyone can feel whenever he’s in the gym. I think it’s great for him to come and watch us workout and I think everyone played at a high level today.
(On the workout)
It went well. It was a competitive workout with top-level guys.
(On the mix of shooting guards and power forwards in the workout)
It was a good mix. You can get a better set out of it. You can play screen and roll and do different things. You can play three on three instead of being limited to certain drills. Getting up and down in transition really shows what you can do in those situations. It was a great workout.
(On what he was trying to showcase in the workout)
That I can shoot the ball consistently. I shot the ball pretty well in a couple drills today.
(On how he could fit in with the Bobcats)
I think I’ll fit perfectly. They need some guys to help out and I’m willing to be that guy to help this organization out.
(On the workout)
I think it went well. It was a nice, very intense workout. I felt like all the guys were competing out there. We were encouraging each other and going hard.
(On the mix of shooting guards and power forwards in the workout)
I like mixing it up, it shows my ability to guard multiple positions so I felt like today was a good workout for me because I wasn’t just stuck on a big all day, I got to match up with guards and mobile forwards. It showed my versatility on defense.
(On working out in ACC country, in Charlotte)
(Laughter) I don’t know, I feel a little threatened out here; it’s a lot of light blue out here.
(On what he’s trying to showcase at the workouts)
Toughness, intensity and defense. Especially shot blocking, that’s what I can do on an nba level right now. Offensively, I need to keep working. But as of right now those are the things I can do really well on defense.
(On if he will be a good fit for the Bobcats)
I think I’ll come here and contribute. I’m an older, mature guy so I think I’ll be able to help them out a lot in the locker room.
(On Kidd-Gilchrist and Beal)
They’re both great guys and they’re tough. I like both of their games. They’re deceptive with their speed but I had fun guarding them.