Dez Wells

Wheat Hotchkiss

The Pacers held their third pre-draft workout on Thursday, and this one was a little different than the previous two. Both of the previous workouts featured at least two post players, but all six players visiting Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday ply their trades on the perimeter.

Five of the six prospects are either 6-5 or 6-6, with Louisville point guard Terry Rozier measuring out at 6-2. Rozier and Kentucky's Andrew Harrison are projected to run the point in the NBA, while the other four prospects (Nebraska's Terran Petteway, North Carolina's J.P. Tokoto, UNLV's Rashad Vaughn, and Maryland's Dez Wells) are hoping to carve out a niche for themselves on the wing.

PHOTO GALLERY: Thursday's Pre-Draft Workout »

The abundance of perimeter players made Thursday's workout, led by Pacers head coach Frank Vogel and his coaching staff, especially intense. The lack of bigs opened up some room for players to display offensive versatility during three-on-three sessions.

"Everything is going so fast, but still everyone is competitive," Rozier said. "You don't have to worry about sometimes big guys dragging."

Tokoto added: "Everybody plays different spots, I was guarding Rashad Vaughn so we were moving around from wing to post, that kind of thing."

I had the opportunity to speak with all six prospects during their visit to The Fieldhouse. You can watch those interviews in the video player above and read below for brief notes on each prospect.

The Battle for the Bluegrass made its way north into the Hoosier State on Thursday. Harrison and Rozier are very familiar with one another, having played on opposite sides of the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry for the past two seasons. They went head-to-head in a workout in Utah on Sunday and faced off once again on Thursday at The Fieldhouse.

"He's a good competitive person and it's always good to go against someone competitive you test yourself," Rozier said. "So if I can get him in more workouts, it would be a lot of fun."

Though they went to rival schools and are both jockeying for draft position, there's no bad blood between Rozier and Harrison, who both turned pro after their sophomore seasons.

"He's always going to be a Louisville guy and I'm always going to be a Kentucky guy," Harrison said. "But to be honest, we're trying to move on now and move on to the next level."

At just a hair under 6-6, Harrison has great size for a point guard. He's an excellent passer and operates well in pick-and-roll sets. His numbers were diluted in college playing alongside a slew of future pros, but he also showed a willingness to sacrifice for the good of the team and learned to play in a system that has proven to prepare players for the NBA.

The biggest knock on Harrison is his offensive efficiency. Though he shot a solid 38.3 percent from 3-point range as a sophomore, his overall field goal percentage was a paltry .378. He will definitely need to improve his ability to score the ball from inside the arc if he wants to succeed at the next level.

Rozier, meanwhile, is hoping to prove that he can run the point after playing mostly shooting guard during his final season with the Cardinals. Rozier averaged an impressive 17.1 points per game for head coach Rick Pitino's squad.

"I sacrificed for my team, they needed me to score the ball that's pretty much what it was," Rozier said. "...It was a lot of fun, but I know I can play point guard at the next level and I know that's what I'm trying to show teams."

Rozier's biggest focus is on fine-tuning his inconsistent outside shot. He knocked down 37 percent of his 3-point attempts as a freshman, but shot just .306 from beyond the arc as a sophomore.

"My jump shot is looking pretty good right now," Rozier said. "That's one of the things I was mainly working on as soon as my season ended, my college career ended."

Athletic Tokoto Refining Game for Next Level

Like Andrew Harrison, J.P. Tokoto's college statistics aren't eye-popping, in part because he also played for a blue-chip program alongside numerous McDonald's All-Americans.

But Tokoto does have one bona fide skill set that should translate immediately to the NBA: He's an excellent defender. Blessed with great length (he has a 6-10 wingspan) and strong natural instincts, the former North Carolina Tar Heel has all the tools to hold his own against the most dynamic scoring guards.

Tokoto averaged 1.6 steals per game as a sophomore, when he was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team, and followed that up by averaging 1.5 thefts per contest as a junior.

Basketball wasn't Tokoto's first love. His grandfather, Jean-Pierre Tokoto, was a professional soccer player who starred for the Cameroon national team that played in the 1982 World Cup. Young J.P. originally played soccer as well before picking up basketball as a teenager. He credits the skills he learned on the pitch as playing a major part in developing his defensive instincts on the hardwood.

"You've got a soccer ball in front of you, you're not really watching the ball you've got to watch the guy as well because he could fake you out with his body," Tokoto said. "So it's kind of watching both ball and man. I kind of translate that to the court, watching guys, how they move and giving them space and of course my length helps a lot and my quickness but that's one of the major things is my footwork."

As good as he is defensively, Tokoto's offensive game raises some serious question marks. His athleticism will allow him to collect a few points per game off hustle plays or in transition, but he will also need to knock down shots from the perimeter, a skill he lacked in college. Tokoto made just 21-of-79 shots (26.6 percent) in three seasons in Chapel Hill.

For that reason, Tokoto has been working on refining his shooting mechanics.

"Footwork is the biggest thing to me," Tokoto said. "Stepping into the shot, not waiting for it to hit me, not hopping into it kind of one, two step. Keeping my elbow in instead of out. If you keep your elbow out you're pushing the ball (sideways), keep it in and you're pushing it forward."

Rashad Vaughn was the youngest participant in Thursday's workout. Vaughn, who won't turn 19 until August 16, went pro after just one season at UNLV.

During his abbreviated college tenure, Vaughn proved himself as an elite scorer. He averaged 17.8 points per game and shot a solid 37.8 percent from 3-point range in 23 games for the Runnin' Rebels, including a 21-point performance in an upset win over #3 Arizona just before Christmas.

Vaughn tore his meniscus in February, ending his season, but he said on Thursday that he is completely recovered.

In terms of raw talent, Vaughn may have been the best prospect at Thursday's workout. At his age, he has plenty of room to develop, particularly on the defensive end. It may have been a risk to turn pro so early, but Vaughn is hopeful he can work his way into the first round on draft night.

"It's always been a dream of mine to do and the opportunity presented itself, so I just took the chance," Vaughn said.

Dez Wells is nearly five years older than Vaughn, but he's hoping that experience can be to his benefit as he fights to make an NBA roster.

In his four years in college, Wells tallied 1,710 career points while competing in three major conferences. He was the Sporting News Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year at Xavier before transferring to Maryland. He averaged 14.9 points per game and was named third team All-ACC as a junior and then was voted to the coaches' All-Big Ten first team during his senior season, the Terrapins' first in a new league.

Wells believes his wealth of knowledge from his time in college will help him transition quickly to the next level.

"I can adjust a lot quicker to the physicality, the speed of the game," Wells said. "I feel I can adjust to the sets and the overall knowledge of the game...I think I have experience over these guys."

Wells' maturity was on display his senior season, when he improved his 3-point percentage from .304 as a junior to .510 as a senior, albeit on just 49 attempts. The 6-5 shooting guard credits that improvement to having better shot selection and making sure to "pick and choose" his spots.

A childhood friend and high school teammate of John Wall, Wells has had several people in his corner as he prepares for the NBA. One of those is Maryland coach Mark Turgeon, who also coached Pacers guard Donald Sloan at Texas A&M.

"Coach Turgeon knows him really well and he did a great job of prepping me and getting me ready to come to the Pacers and (making sure I knew) things about the franchise," Wells said.

Like Wells, Terran Petteway proved himself as one of the best scorers in the Big Ten.

Petteway, who started his college career at Texas Tech before transferring to Nebraska, led the conference in scoring as a sophomore, averaging 18.1 points per game. The Cornhuskers also made a surprise appearance in the NCAA Tournament that season.

Petteway continued to light up the scoreboard during his junior year, but the Huskers struggled as a team, going just 5-13 in conference. After topping 18 points per contest for the second straight season and completing enough coursework to earn his degree, the 6-6 wing elected to forego his final season of eligibility and enter his name into the draft.

Petteway has good athleticism with a 6-11 wingspan. In the short portion of 3-on-3 work the media was allowed to watch, Petteway skied for an emphatic slam dunk on the baseline and also blocked a shot at the rim. He's hoping performances like that will open enough eyes that an organization takes a chance on him at draft night.

"I'm trying to prove that I'm a two-way guard and that I can be a guy that can come in and score and also guard my position," Petteway said.

The Pacers own the 11th and 43rd overall selections in the 2015 NBA Draft, which will take place on June 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

pacers-turn-attention-to-the-perimeter

Pacers Turn Attention to the Perimeter

pre-draft-workouts-may-28-2015

Pre-Draft Workouts: May 28, 2015

admin

Height: 6-4
Weight: 209
Position: SG
College: Maryland
Age: 23

PPG: 15.1
RPG: 5.3
APG: 2.8
BLK: 0.4
STL: 1.0

2014-15 Highlights: First Team All-Big Ten (coaches), Second Team All-Big Ten (media)...Bleacher Report All-Big Ten Second Team and was selected to the USBWA All-District Team...Named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week (3/9)...Averaged 16 points and 6.5 rebounds in two games in the Big Ten Tournament...Has scored in double-figures in 13 straight games, averaging 17.5 points per game with a .523 field goal percentage as the Terps went 10-3 during that span...Recently passed former Naismith Player of the Year Joe Smith on Maryland’s all-time career points list and is currently 20th (1,375)...Notched second-straight double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds at Nebraska (3/8)...Scored 20-plus points in six games this season, including four of the last eight...Led team in scoring (26), rebounds (7) and assists (4) vs. No. 5 Wisconsin (2/24)...Ranks 10th in scoring (15.4) and eighth in free throw pct. (.805) in the Big Ten...Named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week (2/16)...Scored 22 points on 7-for-10 shooting and added six rebounds at Penn State...Scored a game-high 23 points on 8-for-10 shooting and added seven rebounds vs. Penn State (2/4)...Hit game-winning putback with 1.4 seconds left vs. Northwestern and scored 17 points versus Wildcats (1/25) - second career game-winner (vs. Miami, 1/29/14)...Scored 16 points, including a game-tying three-pointer with 2.2 seconds left in regulation at Michigan State. Also added seven rebounds and five assists against the Spartans (12/30)...Missed four weeks due to fractured right wrist sustained in Iowa State game (11/25)...Tabbed to John Wooden Preseason Top-50 List on Nov. 18...Named to the CBE Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 14 points, 7.5 rebounds and four assists
in wins vs. Arizona State (11/24) and Iowa State (11/25)...Listed as one of the top 10 dunkers in college basketball by the Sporting News...Recorded 1,000th career point as a Terrapin against CCSU.

CAREER HONORS: 2014 All-ACC Third Team, 2014 USBWA All-District III Team, 2013-14 Paradise Jam MVP, 2013 ACC All-Tournament First Team, 2012 Atlantic 10 Coaches All-Rookie Team, 2012 Sporting News Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year, Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week (2/21/12)

AS A JUNIOR (2013-14): Named to the ALL-ACC THIRD TEAM on March 10 in both coaches’ and media polls...named to the USBWA ALL-DISTRICT III TEAM on March 11...started 31-of-32 games, averaging 30.6 minutes/g...led team in scoring (14.9/g), notching double-figures in 28-of-32 contests...dramatically improved free throw shooting, nailing 81.7% of free throws -- inlcluding 94% over final six games of season...led team in total assists (69) and t-first in blocks (27); t-second in steals (34)...scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half on 4-of-6 shooting vs. #4 Syracuse (2/24)...scored 17 points in the second half on 7-of-11 shooting at #8 Duke (2/15)...hit a game-winning 3-pointer against Miami (1/29) with 5.9 seconds remaining, scoring 21 points in the second half (7-for-7 shooting)...notched 19 points and career-high four steals vs. #20 Pitt (1/25)...posted all 17 points in the second half with career-high 11 free throws vs. Notre Dame (1/15)...hit season-high nine free throws and scored 15 points at Florida State (1/12)...recorded second career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds vs. Tulsa (12/29)...blocked a career-high five shots and added 18 points and nine rebounds vs. Boston Univ. (12/21)...had a career night with 33 points, including 22 in the second half, at Boston College (12/12)...tallied 19 points, including 17 in the second half, at #5 Ohio State (12/4)...named Paradise Jam MVP, averaging 12.7 ppg, 4.7 rebs and 3.0 assists in three games...scored 13 points in Paradise Jam finals vs. Providence (11/25)...had 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting in Paradise Jam semifinals versus Northern Iowa (11/24)...notched 23 points and went 8-for-8 at the charisty stripe versus Oregon State (11/17)...posted 13 points in 37 minutes in season debut against #19 UConn (11/8)...had 22 points and nine rebounds in a 92-84 win over the Bahama All-Stars.

AS A SOPHOMORE (2012-13): Named to the ACC All-Tournament first team on March 17... Led the team in scoring (13.1 ppg), ranked 2nd in assists (3.0 apg) and 3rd in rebounding (4.9 rpg)... Ranked 10th in the ACC in assists (3.0), 17th in scoring (13.1) and 21st in rebounds (4.9)... Averaged 17.0 ppg on .542 (71-131) shooting in the last 11 games... Averaged 16.6 points in Maryland's 17 games away from home (11 road + 6 neutral)... Led the team with six 20-point games and scored in double figures 24 times... Had a team-high 60 assists (3.3 pg) in ACC play... Third on the team with 20 blocks and third with 34 steals... Set then season-high with eight rebounds vs. LIU Brooklyn (11/16)... Set then career-high with 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting at Northwestern (11/27). His 34 minutes played are the most by a Terp this season... Established a new career high with 25 points vs. George Mason (12/2). Also became the first ACC player to make 11 field goals in a game this season (11 of 17 shooting)... Had 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, along with 6 boards, vs. Stony Brook (12/21)... Scored a game-high 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting at Miami (1/13)... Had a team-high 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting at North Carolina (1/19)... Recorded a career-high 8 assists vs. Boston College (1/22) while seeing significant minutes at point guard. Had 7 assists and no turnovers in the second half... Had 8 rebounds, while adding 13 points at Duke (1/26)... Scored 13 of his team-high 19 points in the second half at Florida State (1/30)... Set a season high with 9 rebounds while adding 8 points and a team-high 5 assists at Virginia Tech (2/7)... Scored a team-high 13 points vs. Virginia (2/10)... Dished out a game-high seven assists and added nine points, seven rebounds and two steals vs. Duke (2/16)... Had a team-high seven assists and just one turnover vs. Clemson (2/23)... Led the team with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting at Georgia Tech (2/27)... Scored 23 points on 11-of-12 shooting and added five rebounds at Wake Forest (3/2)... Had a team-high 18 points along with six rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists vs. North Carolina (3/6)... Recorded his first double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds at Virginia (3/10). Also set career marks with 40 minutes and 18 field goal attempts... Averaged 22.0 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game in three ACC Tournament games to earn first team All-Tournament honors... Scored a career-high 30 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field and 10-of-10 free throws to lift Maryland to a quarterfinal win over Duke... Had a team-high 19 points, including nine in a 23-4 run that helped Maryland comeback for a 62-52 win over Denver in the NIT quarterfinals (3/21).

AS A FRESHMAN AT XAVIER (2011-12): Selected to the 2012 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team by the A-10 coaches and named 2012 Sporting News A-10 Freshman of the Year... Earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors after averaging 12.5 ppg. in XU's games at UMass on Feb. 21 and vs. Richmond on Feb. 25, including a career-high tying 19 at UMass... Fourth on the team in scoring at 9.8 ppg and third in rebounding at 4.9 rpg... Recorded two double-doubles: 14 points and a career-high 11 rebounds in the win over Notre Dame on March 16 and 13 points and 10 rebounds at Saint Louis on Feb. 28... Started all 32 games that he played as a freshman... Hit 6-of-9 from the field en route to 16 points to go with seven rebounds against IPFW on Nov. 15... Started and played 21 minutes in his Xavier debut on Nov. 11 vs. Morgan State, contributing 12 points, four rebounds and two assists... Returned for the Gonzaga game on Dec. 31 after serving a four-game suspension that started with the Oral Roberts game on Dec. 18... Had 13 points at Butler on Dec. 7 and 14 points and six rebounds against Cincinnati on Dec. 10... Had a team-high tying 15 points at La Salle on Jan. 4 to go with seven rebounds... Hit all seven of his shots from the field against the Dukes, including six dunks and a 3-pointer... Scored 16 points to go with a game-high nine rebounds in the win over Duquesne on Jan. 11... Came up big at Charlotte on Jan. 28, especially in the second half; contributed 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds, tallying eight points and four rebounds in the final 7:19 of action in the win over the 49ers... Matched his career scoring high (19 points) and set a new career high for steals (three) in the game at Massachusetts on Feb. 21... Had a career game at Memphis on Feb. 4 where he hit 8-of-10 from the field en route to a career-high 19 points to go with four assists and five rebounds... Scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half of the March 10 win over Saint Louis, making big play after big play... The 18 points were one point shy of his career high... Scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead a 67-63 win over Notre Dame in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 17.

AT HARGRAVE MILITARY ACADEMY (2010-11): Team recorded a 28-1 overall record during his lone season... Teammates included P.J. Hairston (North Carolina).

AT WORD OF GOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY: Two-time state champion... Averaged 19.8 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals as a senior while leading his team to a 28-1 record... Teammates included John Wall (Washington Wizards), C.J. Leslie (N.C. State), Bishop Daniels (Miami), Elijah Johnson (Kansas) and Emanuel Chapman (North Carolina Central).

PERSONAL: Mother is Pamela Wells, who was an All-American basketball player at St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, N.C... Has two sisters, Jocelyn Brand and Jazmine Wilson, who is a senior at Winston Salem State and plays basketball and volleyball... Major is American Studies...Changed number to 44 (from 32) as a senior to honor deceased former teammate.

dez-wells-2015-draft-prospect

Dez Wells: 2015 Draft Prospect

thursdays-pre-draft-workout-participants

Thursday's Pre-Draft Workout Participants

The Indiana Pacers will host six prospects for the 2015 NBA Draft at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday for pre-draft workouts.

The six players scheduled to participate in workouts are Andrew Harrison (Kentucky), Terran Petteway (Nebraska), Terry Rozier (Louisville), J.P. Tokoto (North Carolina), Rashad Vaughn (UNLV), and Dez Wells (Maryland). Players are subject to change.

PHOTO GALLERY: Thursday's Workout Participants »

The 2015 NBA Draft will take place on Thursday, June 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Pacers own two picks in this year's draft, one pick in both the first and second rounds, the 11th and 43rd overall selections.

Dez Wells

Pacers Turn Attention to the Perimeter

Pre-Draft Workouts: May 28, 2015

Dez Wells: 2015 Draft Prospect

Thursday's Pre-Draft Workout Participants

Pacers to Hold Next Pre-Draft Workouts on Thursday