Cam Whitmore

Wheat Hotchkiss

Cam Whitmore has been dreaming of being drafted to the NBA since he was five years old. In less than three weeks, that dream will become a reality.

Where Whitmore ends up is still to be determined, but after his pre-draft workout at the Ascension St. Vincent Center on Thursday, the 18-year-old former Villanova wing took some time to envision what it would be like to don a Pacers uniform, running the break and catching lobs from All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton.

"I definitely can fit in," Whitmore said of his potential fit with the Pacers, who have the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

"I'm all about moving the ball up the floor, kicking the ball up the floor, running up the floor, getting transition dunks, getting transition threes, getting offense quickly. I'm all about that."

Whitmore was the first projected lottery pick to visit Indiana for a pre-draft workout. It was also his first workout for an NBA team. He was scheduled to visit Utah (who owns the ninth overall pick) next, but didn't know his schedule beyond that.

It doesn't take long studying Whitmore to see why he is a projected top 10 pick. Though he is one of the youngest players in this year's draft class (he won't turn 19 until July 8), Whitmore is also one of the most developed physically. He measured at 6-6 and 235 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine last month in Chicago and showed off his athleticism with a 40.5-inch vertical, tied for the third-best mark at the combine.

Whitmore thrives at the rim, using his physical gifts to score both in the halfcourt and in transition. He would provide another weapon for Haliburton and Indiana's high-octane offense, which ranked fifth in the NBA in pace last season.

Most players projected to be picked as high as Whitmore elect to take part in one-on-one workouts. It's a different dynamic from the six-player group workouts the Pacers hold at other times during the pre-draft process, but still allows the team to get an up-close look at players and put them through drills to see how they perform in different situations.

Whitmore said Thursday's workout focused heavily on his decision-making in pick-and-rolls and shooting threes in transition. The latter area is Whitmore's biggest focus during the pre-draft process.

He shot a respectable 34.3 percent from 3-point range in his lone season at Villanova, but was inconsistent with his performance from beyond the arc. Whitmore made three or more threes in six games, but also struggled at other times. He went 0-for-8 from long distance over a three-game stretch over Christmas and 5-for-24 over another drought from Feb. 4-21.

"I definitely could have shot the ball a lot better off the bounce," Whitmore said when reflecting on his time in college. "I think I was 27 percent off the dribble. Catch-and-shoot, I was kind of high, I was 40 percent. So off the dribble threes, combo moves to a shot, that's something I've got to improve on."

Whitmore felt he shot the ball well in Thursday's workout. In one clip posted on social media, he knocked down seven straight threes.

Developing consistency with his shot will be key to Whitmore's success at the next level, but he has all the physical tools to thrive in the NBA. The Maryland native was named Big East Freshman of the Year after averaging 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game last season. Prior to arriving at Villanova, he helped lead USA Basketball to a gold medal at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship, where he was chosen as Most Outstanding Player from a talented roster that also featured other potential 2023 first-round picks Anthony Black and GG Jackson.

Whitmore said the NBA players he views as having similar games to his includes Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, and Miles Bridges.

The Pacers struck gold with another physically gifted wing last year, taking Bennedict Mathurin with the sixth overall pick. You can never have enough talent on the wing, particularly with a player like Haliburton running the point, and the Pacers could double down by drafting someone like Whitmore.

Other than their physical gifts, Whitmore also seems to carry a similar confidence as Mathurin. After Thursday's workout, he was asked about auditioning in front of an audience that included Hall of Famer Larry Bird, who is back with the Pacers as a consultant.

"That's a three-time MVP, (NBA champion)," Whitmore said. "That's the GOAT legend right there. I'm very grateful for him. That's a pleasure for him to come out and watch me. Especially when I'm by myself, too, so it's just him watching me."

As a follow-up, Whitmore was asked if Bird's presence brought out any extra nerves. He smiled when answered.

"I never fold under pressure," he said. "Never."

Whitmore said he was taking the pre-draft process step by step, which is why he didn't know his schedule for the next few weeks beyond his next stop. But he occasionally allows his mind to drift to June 22 and what it will be like to see his dream come true.

"I definitely cannot wait until that night (when) my name gets called and me walking on that stage, have the lights shining down on me and just realizing, 'Yeah, I made it. I'm here,'" he said.

Could he be wearing a Pacers hat when he walks across the Barclays Center stage? Only time will tell.

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Indiana Pacers Pre-Draft Workouts: Cam Whitmore One-on-One Interview (June 1, 2023)

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Whitmore First Likely Lottery Pick to Audition in Indiana

indkgrand

Villanova forward Cam Whitmore spoke about his pre-draft workout, how he developed at Villanova and his musical talents. Pacers draft coverage is presented by NerdWallet.

The Pacers will hold their fourth pre-draft workout in preparation for the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 1 at Ascension St. Vincent Center.

Villanova forward Cam Whitmore will take part in an individual workout on Thursday morning.

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Pacers to Hold Fourth Pre-Draft Workout on Thursday, June 1

Height: 6-7Weight: 232Position: FCollege: VillanovaAge: 18

2022-23 Season StatsPPG: 12.5RPG: 5.3APG: 0.7BLK: 0.3STL: 1.4

Player BioCourtesy of  Villanova Athletics

2022-23 OverviewNamed BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and a unanimous selection to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team ... Averaged 27.5 minutes and 12.5 points per game in 25 appearances after recovering from right thumb surgery that sidelined him from early October through Dec. 3 ... Also averaged 5.3 rebounds per contest.

2022-23 Postseason HighlightsPosted his first double-double at the collegiate level, scoring 19 points and adding 10 rebounds, in an 80-48 victory over Georgetown on March 8 at Madison Square Garden.2022-23 BIG EAST Regular Season Highlights&nbsp;Named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week on Feb. 13 ... Contributed 17 points without a turnover in 35:41 of an 81-65 win over DePaul on Feb. 8 ... Led the ‘Cats with 21 points and nine rebounds in a 70- 65 loss to Providence on Jan. 29 ... Added 13 points and a season-high four steals to a 77-73 win over Georgetown on Jan. 16 ... Contributed 16 points on Jan. 10 at DePaul ... Netted a season-high 26 points in 35:10 of an 88-80 loss to Xavier on Jan. 7 ... Logged a season-high 29:03 at Georgetown on Jan. 4, scoring eight points and grabbing seven rebounds ... Scored 14 points and added eight rebounds in his first collegiate start on Dec. 31 vs. Marquette ... Collected 10 caroms in a 78-63 win over St. John’s on Dec. 21.

2022-23 Non-Conference HighlightsDelivered 19 points and a season-high seven caroms in a 77-56 win over Boston College on Dec. 10 ... Led the ‘Cats with 21 points and six rebounds in a 70-59 win over Penn on Dec. 7 ... Returned from a seven week absence owed to Oct. 12 surgery on his right (shooting) thumb to score seven points and collect three rebounds in a 70-66 win over Oklahoma on Dec. 3.

Archbishop SpaldingNamed both the 2022 Gatorade Maryland Boys Basketball Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American … Contributed a game-high 19 points along with eight rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals for the victorious East team in the McDonald’s game … A two-time Baltimore Catholic League Player of the Year who also played in the 2022 Jordan Brand Classic … During three seasons at Spalding started all 72 games he appeared I, scoring 1,252 points and collected 633 rebounds … Averaged 21.4 ppg. and 10.6 rpg. as a senior in 2021-22 in leading the Cavaliers to the semifinals of both the MIAA A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League tournaments and a 25-10 record … Missed his freshman season due to injury … Played AAU Basketball for Team Melo … Ranked No. 21 in the ESPN Top 100 of the Class of 2022.PersonalParents are Beth and Myron Whitmore … Myron Whitmore is retired for the United States Air National Guard … A cousin, Bob Whitmore, averaged 18.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game as a standout at Notre Dame from 1966-69 before being selected by both the National and American Basketball Association … Ambidextrous … Plays the baritone saxophone … Was introduced to the game of basketball at age five by his father … Hobbies include playing PlayStation and hanging out with family.Kyle Neptune on Cam Whitmore;&nbsp;“Cam is one of the most gifted and heralded guys that have come through this program. He has a chance to make an immediate impact thanks to his skill and athleticism. His parents have helped instill in Cam an outstanding attitude that is already helping him transition quickly to Villanova.”

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