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Predraft Workouts: Wednesday (Session 1)

The Lakers hosted their first predraft workout at the team's practice facility in advance of the June 26 Draft.

Among the players participating in the first session were: Tyler Ennis (Syracuse), Gary Harris (Michigan State), Zach LaVine (UCLA), Brendan Lane (Pepperdine), Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State) and Noah Vonleh (Indiana).

Prospects working out for the Lakers started with physical testing from 9-10:15 a.m., workouts until 11:45 and finished up with shooting drills.

Below is a transcription of quotes from the respective prospects:

NOAH VONLEH | VIDEO | PHOTO GALLERY
Q: On what it would mean to him to be a Laker:
Vonleh: It would mean a lot. The Lakers were one of my favorite teams growing up, watching Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and the great players they had over the years. They were winning championships. When I think of the Lakers, I think of a championship program. I think if they get the right pieces, they can get to that championship level.

Q: On what the workout consisted of today:
Vonleh: It was a pretty good workout. We did some ballhandling, post moves, moves off the dribble into different finishes, played 2-on-2, 3-on-3, ended with shots – midrange, three-pointers, one dribble pull-ups.

Q: On what he’s trying to show in these workouts:
Vonleh: I’m trying to show my versatility, showing I can take guys off the dribble, finishing above the rim, footwork in the post when I have a smaller guy, showing I can rebound and things like that.

Q: On any NBA comparisons he’s heard of:
Vonleh: I hear a lot of comparisons to Chris Bosh and LaMarcus Aldridge. I see similarities but I think I do things different.

MARCUS SMART | VIDEO | PHOTO GALLERY
Q: On what he tells teams his greatest skillset is and what he can bring to the table:
Smart: I’m a playmaker, not just on offense or defense. I’m a playmaker on both sides. I can affect the game on both ends.

Q: On what he’s trying to improve upon from now until June 26:
Smart: I’m still working on becoming a more consistent shooter. My jump shot is getting better day-by-day and it’s improved drastically, but I’m still working on it.

Q: On defending point guards at the next level:
Smart: I’m very confident. For my size, I’m 6-foot-4, I have strength, I have a 6-foot-9 wingspan, I move pretty good laterally, so using those to my advantage.

Q: On who impressed him in workouts:
Smart: Noah Vonleh was out here and I didn’t realize how strong he was in person until you could see what he could do. Zach LaVine, I knew he could jump, but he can do a lot of things, too. He’s long, and he can affect you on the defensive end also.

Q: On how his physicality will help him at the next level:
Smart: Me with a bigger body set, it makes it harder for guys. I don’t have to shake and bake as much. I can make one move and get my shoulder by you cause I’m so strong and it doesn’t take a lot for me to get by you, so that helps me on the offensive end. On the defensive end, I can get into you and guide you where I want you to go.

ZACH LAVINE | VIDEO | PHOTO GALLERY
Q: On what he’s trying to prove in these workouts:
LaVine: People haven’t really seen me play the point guard position that much or handle the ball. They know I can score, jump and run. But for me, showing my facilitating abilities and being able to create will definitely help me a lot.

Q: On his 46-inch vertical leap during the physical testing part of the drills:
LaVine: I was pumped a little bit, you know, the Lakers.

Q: On what he’s working on at the point guard position:
LaVine: I’m working on my reads off the pick and roll, getting the feel for it. I didn’t handle the ball that much this year, so getting my ballhandling and vision back.

Q: On his subpar second half of the season at UCLA:
LaVine: I’m 19 years old. You go through an up and down season. At the NBA level, I’ll go through an up and down parts of the season as well. As a basketball player, you have to deal with that. As long as the team is winning and we’re rolling, I’m fine.

Q: On defending at the next level:
LaVine: I feel like I have all the tools to be a great defender at the one position. I have the speed and quickness. I just have to get stronger, of course. But learning how to read the picks, going over or under them, the different types of defenses. I’m willing to do anything a team needs me to do. If they want me to go out and play straight defense and lock someone up, I’ll do that. If they need me to be a cheerleader on the bench, I’ll do that. If they need me to run the team, I’ll do that as well. I’m going in to win a spot.

GARY HARRIS | VIDEO | PHOTO GALLERY
Q: On what he’s trying to prove in these workouts:
Harris: Everything. Being more consistent with my shot, working on my ballhandling, working on my decision-making skills, just my all-around game and trying to get better and preparing myself for the next level.

Q: On what he believes the biggest adjustment will be going from college to the pros:
Harris: I talked to a lot of guys but the strength and pace. It may not look like it’s going fast on TV, but things happen quickly. Just getting adjusted. Everybody has their adjustment level going into college, but I’m going to have the same adjustment level going to the NBA.

Q: On what he tells teams his greatest asset is and what he can bring to the table:
Harris: My will to compete on both ends of the floor. I’m going to give it my all no matter what.

TYLER ENNIS | VIDEO | PHOTO GALLERY
Q: On what he’s trying to show in these workouts:
Ennis: Personally, coming from Syracuse, it’s tough to see how you can play 1-on-1 defense so I’m trying to show I can defend another point guard, and show I can shoot the NBA three. They haven’t seen us shoot from NBA range in college so coming out and being able to shoot the ball and sticking to what I do best, make plays for others, work off the pick-and-roll, work off isolation and just sticking to my game.

Q: On wearing the purple and gold:
Ennis: It’s a great feeling seeing the retired jerseys on the wall and knowing the history. They haven’t had a lottery pick in awhile, so to work out here with such a great team is something I’ll remember forever.

Q: On if he was a Kobe fan growing up:
Ennis: I think everybody was. You have to respect Kobe. To be able to workout alongside him as a young player and see how he works will help anybody, regardless of position. Work ethic is contagious. To have him, Steve Nash and the older guys, you have no reason but to get better.