2006 Pre-Draft Camp: Day 2 Notebook

Wyoming's Justin Williams goes in for a dunk during scrimmages held early on Wednesday.

Scrimmage Two (Team 5): Brad Newley (Townsville) was doing his best Dwight Howard impression in the second scrimmage, pulling down four rebounds (and two points) in the short time span. Although his team had trouble reaching the scoreboard – they didn’t score their second basket until over six minutes in – they made a valiant effort in closing the gap at the end, coming within two points in the final seconds on a Marcus Slaughter (San Diego State) jam before Kenny Adeleke (Hartford) provided his team’s final points for the 12-8 win. Adeleke, who was impressive in his first day of camp, and Torin Francis (Notre Dame) both ended the contest with four points a piece.

Scrimmage Three (Team 4): Taquan Dean (Louisville) hit a three-pointer to lift teammates Will Blalock (Iowa State), Tedric Hill (Gulf Coast CC) and JR Pinnock (George Washington) to the 9-8 victory over the rest of Team 4. Paul Miller (Wichita State), Brad Buckman (Texas), Renaldo Balkman (South Carolina) and Curtis Stinson all reached the scoring column, but Gerry McNamara (Syracuse) failed to connect, missing on two treys late in the scrimmage.

MVP (Most Valuable Performance): Coming in to the Pre-Draft Camp, most guys are not worried about how their team will play together, but rather how good they will appear at the end of the day. But even with his MVP-like numbers, Nik Caner Medley wasn’t focused today on his individual performance, but rather how his whole team played together in their comeback victory.

“I just think we played hard – we played well as a team. I was interested to see, in a setting like this, how guys were going to play as a team and respond. I am really happy with the team I am on – great guys. Everybody works hard, and to come back in a situation like this – in a situation where guys are trying to show their individual stuff, for guys to really have a passion to want to win, that really says a lot about the team. I was happy about it.”

However, with 22 points and five rebounds, the former Terrapin was happy about how his first game went at the Pre-Draft camp. But even so, his focus wasn’t on the number of shots he hit, but how hard he played on both ends of the court.

“I thought I did good. I just tried to play hard and get rebounds and not take any plays off – that was what I was focusing on. You are going to make some shots, you are going to miss some shots, so I was just focused on playing hard and I think I did play hard.”

And with day two now under wrap, Caner-Medley is already dreading nearing the end of his brief, four-day stint here in Orlando.

“I am trying to take advantage of every minute, because time is going to fly. I don’t want it to go by quick. I just to take advantage of every minute, and it is going good so far.”

HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL: After the short scrimmages ended the morning practice session, all of the players who weren’t involved in the afternoon game left… except for one. UCLA’s Jordan Farmar, who is one of the projected first-round picks playing in this week’s camp, changed out of his practice uniform and returned to the court shortly thereafter to watch his peers. Farmar stayed for the duration of the game, sitting behind one of the benches with a basketball in his hand, while occasionally shooting on the one of the adjacent courts at the Milkhouse (and rarely missing).

SMITH STILL OUT: Boston College’s Craig Smith injured his wrist during the camp’s first day of activity. He was examined by Disney’s Wide World of Sports medical staff and is only allowed to participate in non-contact drills.

WELL GUARDED: The last time we saw Allan Ray he had bounced back from nearly having his eye gouged out in the Big East tournament to lead Villanova into the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Now, the AP Third Team All-American is looking to impress NBA officials enough to improve his stock in the June 28 NBA Draft.

Ray wants to prove that he has the ability to play in the role of a point guard or combo guard, something he's tried to demonstrate this week. The 6-2 guard got off to a strong start on Wednesday in game action, scoring 12 points off 5-of-9 shooting.

"Everyone wants to see if I can handle the ball and make good decisions," Ray said. "At the same time, I don't want to lose my aggressiveness - don't let them forget what I can do."

But while its important for Ray to show how he can run an offense, he also realizes its his offensive touch that will keep teams interested. Ray was second in scoring for the Wildcats this season with 18.5 ppg - right behind fellow Draft prospect Randy Foye, who led Nova with 20.5 and could land a coveted Lottery pick.

"I don't think I'm going to be a point in the NBA, because I can score," Ray said. "I think they'll probably have me as a combo guard, so just showing little flashes that I can do it and not over do it trying to be a point guard."

Ray compares himself to current Washington Wizard Gilbert Arenas, another guard that had scouts questioning which position he was best suited for coming out of college.

"He was also underrated going into the Draft and fell into the second round," Ray said. "I have a lot of respect for guys like that, that just keep working hard and don't listen to everyone else and you can see what he's doing in the NBA now."

MORE THAN JUST RANGE: As one of only six players in NCAA history to can 400 or more three-pointers, Gerry McNamara is well aware of the stereotype he must shed this week at the Pre-Draft Camp.

After leading Team Four to victory on Wednesday evening with his 16 points, McNamara was quick to point out that he's capable of running an offense - pointing out that he's third all-time at Syracuse in assists and second in steals.

"Besides Sherman Douglas at Syracuse, I'm (third) in assists and that's something I'm proud of," McNamara said. "I'm a point guard that can shoot the ball. My job is to play within the offense, get other people the ball and if I have a shot, take it."

Despite wanting to show off his other abilities, McNamara didn't disappoint in what he does best - nailing four of his six three-point attempts, though he said it took a bit of time to get his shot down early in the week.

"I had trouble when I first got here," said McNamara, of the change from shooting behind the NBA three-point line. "No matter how much you practice, it is different the first time you get out there and play with the three-point line back a few feet. My first shot was way short."

McNamara said he's still recovering a bit from the groin injury that limited his abilities in the NCAA Tournament, but that it doesn't affect his play much on the court.