June 1, 2006

TORONTO (CP) -- Jim Kelly, the Raptors director of player personnel, says he'd be ``shocked'' if Toronto native Denham Brown isn't snapped up by somebody in the 2006 NBA draft.

Brown would love that somebody to be Toronto.

The University of Connecticut product and the best basketball player to come out of Toronto since NBA all-star Jamaal Magloire, auditioned for the Raptors on Thursday as the team continues to host a revolving door of players in preparation for the June 28 draft.

``It's a big one, working out for your home town,'' said Brown. ``Them being interested in me is a good thing, and me being able to play for Toronto would put the icing on the cake.''

Denham Brown spent four seasons at UConn. (NBAE/Getty Images)

The Raptors have the 35th and 56th picks in the draft, along with the first pick overall. Brown is projected to be a late first-round selection, and if the Raptors opt to take the six-foot-six, 220-pound shooting guard, he would be the first Canadian player drafted by Canada's lone NBA team.

``I think about that, every now and then, actually playing for a team that basically came from scratch in Canada basketball. For me to be able to play for a home team that (represents) all of Canada would be nice,'' said Brown. ``To have actually a Canadian guy representing Toronto and Canada would be a good thing for the Raptors and Canada.''

So far, that hasn't happened. The Raptors took some heat when they passed over Canadians Carl English in 2003 and Juan Mendez in 2005. Both went undrafted and play pro ball in Europe.

Kelly admits drafting a local player would be good business _ if it's the right player.

``If he's a good (Canadian) player, I think it's important. If he's a good player from Toronto, I think it's even more important. It would be good for the company,'' said Kelly. ``But I think he has to be a good player, No. 1. And No. 2, he has to be a good fit for the team.''

The 23-year-old Brown made a name for himself as a high school star in Toronto. His two greatest high school memories: leading West Hill Collegiate to an Ontario title, and pouring in a whopping 111 points in a victory. (His UConn teammates demand to this day to see the tape of that game, he said laughing.).

Brown went on to have a standout college career with the perennial powerhouse Huskies, averaging 10.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in his final season, and earning an NCAA title in 2004.

``He's a bonafide scorer, he had a good college career on a very strong team, been involved in big games, set all kinds of high school records here in Toronto scoring, so I don't think there's any doubt he's a good basketball player,'' said Kelly. ``We have a lot of things to do this year, we have some options on our team, and we'll see if he's a good fit.''

Brown didn't have one of his best workouts Thursday at the Air Canada Centre, Kelly calling his performance ``a good day, but not a special day.''

``He didn't shoot the ball especially well today, but I don't think you base a final evaluation on one workout or one day,'' said Kelly. ``We've seen him for four years, and we know what he can do in that regard.

``I think he's a very draftable player,'' Kelly added. ``I would be shocked if he's not drafted.''

Brown has played for Canada's senior men's squad for the last three summers, and has earned a big supporter in head coach Leo Rautins, who believes people didn't see the best of Brown at Connecticut, a school that's three deep at every position.

``I really like Denham, he has a lot to offer,'' Rautins said recently. ``I've been throwing that out there to the Raptors quite a bit.

``The thing about Denham is he has so many skills. Offensively, he's just a very talented player. And he actually knows the game pretty well.''

At the world championship qualifying tournament last summer, Brown had 28 points and nine boards in a huge win over the U.S. In a game against Brazil, Brown made it his job to guard lightning-fast Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa.

``That was something I was looking for him to do. He really played exceptionally well,'' said Rautins.

If Brown and the Raptors aren't a good fit, the Toronto player has other options. He's already worked out for the Portland Trail Blazers, and was heading to Minnesota for a workout with the Timberwolves on Friday. He'll attend a pre-draft camp in Orlando next week, and then figures on a few more workouts after that.

He's confident he has plenty to offer an NBA team _ wherever it may be.

``I think my versatility, being able to do a lot of different things well, and obviously playing defence on guys and locking guys up,'' said Brown. ``I just think I bring an all-around game.''