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2014 NBA Draft Profile: Zach LaVine

Zach LaVine played in all 37 games as a freshman at UCLA and captured Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors. He finished the season making 48 three-pointers, the second-highest number of three-point field goals by a freshman in UCLA program history (trailing Jason Kapono’s school freshman record 82 makes in 1999-00).

On Wednesday, June 4, LaVine was one of 12 prospects to go through a pre-draft workout in front of Lakers brass at the team's practice facility. PHOTO GALLERY

Below is a transcription of his comments to assembled media members:
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.

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Pre-Draft Workout

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LaVine finished in the top five in each category that tested strength and agility drills at the NBA Combine: lane agility time (10.42 seconds, first), shuttle run (2.80 seconds, second), three quarter sprint (3.19 seconds, eighth), standing vertical jump (33.5 inches, fourth) and max vertical leap (41.5 inches, fourth).

Other NBA Draft Combine Measurements
Hand Length: 8.25 inches
Hand Width: 8.75 inches
Standing Reach: 8 feet, 4 inches
Wingspan: 6 feet, 8.25 inches