June 25 Draft Workout Recap

TRIPLE DOUBLE
Monday’s workout featured a total of six players, broken into two groups of three. The first session saw a trio of players 6’10” or taller take the court, while the second workout had a different feel with three wing players, headlined by potential lottery pick Al Thornton.

EUROTRIP
In the first session, first round prospect Josh McRoberts from Duke went up against a pair of international players in Luska Andric from Croatia and Kyrylo Fasenko from the Ukraine.

After the workout, McRoberts was asked if he was familiar with who his foreign competitors of the day were.

“No not really,” McRoberts replied. “But at the same time I don’t think they knew who I was either, so I don’t think that will hurt their feelings.”

Coming out of high school, McRoberts was the McDonald’s All-America Player of the Year. He was projected as a possible lottery pick following his freshman season at Duke but returned for another season. McRoberts earned All-SEC Second Team and All-ACC Defensive Team selections in 2006-07, while averaging 13.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.48 blocks and 1.18 steals.

The two Europeans, Andric and Fesenko, both have a few years of professional playing experience in their home countries. Fesenko, who was credited with a standing reach of 9’4” earlier this month, is active on the boards and is a good shot blocker. Andric has played in the Croatian All-Star game in each of the past three years and displayed good form on his mid-range jumper in today’s workout.

YOU CAN CALL HIM AL
Outside of sharing the same last name, Florida State senior Al Thornton doesn’t have much in common with former Sixer Bob “Thunder” Thornton but that may change come Thursday night.

According to NBA.com’s Consensus Mock Draft , Al Thornton could be the Sixers choice with the 12th pick.

“I’m just nervous, really nervous,” Thornton told reporters after his workout. “I’m ready for the draft… I wish it was tomorrow.”

Thornton turned in one of the most impressive all-around performances in college basketball last season. In addition to leading the ACC in scoring with 19.7 points per game, he averaged 7.2 rebounds, 1.51 steals and 1.14 blocks last season while shooting 53.0% from the floor, 44.4% from 3-point range and 79.0% from the line.

Last week, Thornton was forced to reschedule his workout with the Sixers due to a sprained ankle. He admitted he still wasn’t feeling 100% today, but Sixers President Billy King appreciated the effort Thornton put forth.

“It was tough because this was his first workout coming off the ankle sprain,” King said, “but having seen him over his career we like him and I like how he fought through it and competed today.”

LOCAL BOY DOES GOOD
Ever since the Sixers began their workouts earlier this month, it was always a matter of ‘when’ as opposed to ‘if’ Villanova’s Curtis Sumpter would make an appearance. On Monday, he finally got his shot.

“It was a good way to finish it up, this is my last workout,” Sumpter said. “There’s no better place to be then Philly. So I was just excited I got the opportunity to come here and play.”

Despite an impressive senior season in which he averaged team-highs of 17.4 points and 7.2 rebounds, Sumpter is still facing questions about the ACL injury he suffered in his left knee which forced him to miss the entire 2005-06 season.

“Sometimes it gets a little overwhelming. That’s the first thing people talk about, your knee, your knee, your knee, not how well your playing or what your doing. I don’t worry about it. I’m used to it now. This is the easy part, I feel great so all I have to do is run around and by the end of the workout they won’t even notice my knee.”

Another local product, Temple’s Dustin Salisbery, took part in his second workout with the Sixers. Salisbery’s draft stock received a big boost back in April after he was named to the Portsmouth Invitational All-Tournament Team.

NOT DONE YET
Sixers President Billy King announced yet another workout scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

UCLA guard Arron Afflalo is being brought in for a second look along with Kansas forward Julian Wright who is a projected lottery pick.

After helping UCLA reach the NCAA Championship game in 2006, Afflalo submitted his name for the draft but withdrew to return for his junior season. He earned Consensus First Team All-America honors last season and was named Pac-10 Player of the Year.

Wright garnered All-America Honorable Mention from The Associated Press and Big 12 First Team honors as a sophomore last season. He averaged 12.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.45 steals and 1.29 blocks while shooting 54.9% from the floor.