Jarvis Threatt

Wheat Hotchkiss

The Pacers brought in a bevy of talented post players for their fifth pre-draft workout on Thursday morning at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Most draft workouts feature just two big men (or in some cases, none), but Thursday's session featured four players who likely project to play the power forward position in the pros: Kentucky's Trey Lyles, LSU's Jordan Mickey, Wyoming's Larry Nance, Jr., and Arkansas' Bobby Portis.

PHOTO GALLERY: Thursday's Pre-Draft Workout »

The presence of those four players created a competitive dynamic for Thursday's workout, which also featured Ohio State point guard Shannon Scott and D-League guard Jarvis Threatt. Once again, Pacers head coach Frank Vogel and his coaching staff led the proceedings, which concluded with three-on-three work.

The SEC isn't known as a traditional power in basketball, but each of the three biggest names in town on Thursday (Lyles, Mickey, and Portis) hail from that conference. Draft experts list Lyles and Portis as consensus first-round picks with a good chance of going in the lottery, while Mickey is seen as a late first or early second-rounder.

Each of the three players embraced the opportunity to battle against their conference rivals. Portis and Lyles were matched up on each other during the portion of three-on-three work open to the media, and each player drilled a contested jumper over his opponent. Mickey got in on the action, too, rotating over from Nance to block Portis at the rim on one occasion.

"It's always a joy," Mickey said about being reunited with Lyles and Portis. "Those are very competitive guys. They hate to lose, so it was fun going against them."

Added Lyles: "It pushes me to go out there and compete and try to get the better of my opponent. (Portis) is a good competitor and we went out there and worked hard today."

It's easy to forget given how Lyles' Kentucky squad dominated league play, but Bobby Portis was actually the SEC Player of the Year for the 2014-15 season, when he averaged 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game for the Razorbacks as a sophomore.

Measuring out at 6-11 with a 7-2 wingspan, Portis is a plus-level athlete with a versatile offensive game. Due to Arkansas' system, he didn't post up a ton in college, but is confident that he has a good enough post game to score at the next level.

"We played a five-out pass-and-cut kind of offense, so that's the kind of knock on me right now," Portis said. "But I'm trying to show people that I can post up."

Portis is also an above-average shooter for a big man, despite an unorthodox high release. He hit on a high percentage of his shots from the mid-range and even knocked down 46.7 percent of his shots from beyond the 3-point arc, albeit on just 30 attempts. He said after Thursday's workout that he feels pretty comfortable with the corner 3-point shot, but is still adjusting to the longer arc in the NBA.

Portis' best attribute, however, is his high motor. The Little Rock native played with exceptional energy in college and dominated the offensive glass. If he can bring that same intensity at the next level, Portis could be an immediate asset off the bench for the team that drafts him.

He is also an entertaining interview. When I asked him whether it was fair to say he "played angry" in college, Portis' response was incredible.

"I try to get mad before every game," Portis said. "I try to envision someone hitting my mom. That's what makes me mad. Even before practice, I try to do that so I can go out and be aggressive."

While Portis took home conference Player of the Year honors, Jordan Mickey got plenty of accolades himself, being named to the First Team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive Team. As a sophomore at LSU, Mickey averaged 15.4 points per game, led the conference in rebounding (9.9 per contest), and led the nation in blocked shots (3.6 per game).

Mickey's defensive expertise figures to be the thing most likely to translate to the next level. Though he only measured out at a little over 6-8 at the NBA Draft Combine, Mickey has a 7-3 wingspan that allowed him to swat 219 shots in just two years in college.

"(It's) just a lot to do with timing and not fouling," Mickey said of his shot-blocking prowess. "You've got to learn where to put your hands at, and try not to give the refs an out."

Offensively, Mickey's game is still a little raw. Though he maintained on Thursday that he's a capable jump shooter, Mickey didn't take a ton of jumpers at LSU. His smaller frame also figures to hurt his ability to score in the post in the pros.

He didn't do much offensively in the latter portions of Thursday's workout, but Mickey's block on Portis drew audible gasps from some of the media in attendance. That's a skill set that should definitely translate to the NBA. Mickey's elite defensive skills and athleticism could be enough for a team to take a chance on him in the late first round.

"I'm getting real excited and antsy," Mickey said about Draft Night, which is two weeks away. "I can't wait for the day."

Trey Lyles is also already starting to anticipate hearing his name called.

"I'm going to be all over the place," Lyles said. "Being a kid that's wanted to play in the NBA my whole life, to be drafted and being a kid that watched the draft at home, and to actually do (hear my name called) is going to be crazy for me."

Pacers.com's Mark Montieth focused on what it was like for the 2014 Indiana Mr. Basketball to workout for his hometown team, but the most interesting part of Lyles' development as a prospect is the role he played for a loaded Kentucky team.

Though he's a natural power forward, Lyles was asked to play primarily at the small forward position for the Wildcats, allowing likely lottery picks Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns to man the post. In many ways, that might have been a huge blessing for Lyles, allowing him to hone his skills on the perimeter and guard smaller players.

Still, playing for such a stacked roster also forced Lyles to make some individual sacrifices. His stat line (8.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game) isn't eye-popping, but Lyles is confident that he can bring a lot to an NBA team from day one.

"Being able to make plays for myself and my teammates, post-up game stuff like that, just different things that the team didn't need from me because we had it all in areas that we needed, now being on another level I'll be able to showcase that stuff," Lyles said.

Despite NBA Pedigree, Nance, Jr. Has Something to Prove

Larry Nance, Jr. comes from basketball royalty. His father was a three-time All-Star who spent 13 years with the Suns and Cavaliers and defeated Dr. J in the 1984 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Larry, Jr. possesses similar athleticism to his father, but he wasn't a blue-chip recruit coming out of high school. According to Rivals.com, Nance had seven scholarship offers, but they were from four MAC schools, Milwaukee, Western Carolina, and Wyoming, where he eventually committed.

Nance enjoyed a stellar four-year career in Laramie, where he had a double-digit scoring average in each of his final three years on campus. He averaged 16.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game as a senior, a stat line good enough to earn a selection to the First Team All-Mountain West and conference co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. More importantly, Nance helped the Cowboys advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000-01.

Despite his accomplishments, Nance, Jr. still feels like he's got a lot to prove in these workouts. Being from a mid-major college, he plays with an extra chip on his shoulder, eager to show that his athleticism translates even against the best of the best.

And his dad is in his corner every step of the way.

"He actually came up to Indy last night and hung out with me a little bit," Nance, Jr. said. "(He) just kind of said, 'Be yourself...you're all energy, great athlete, teams love to see that.' So as long as I can show that, he's happy."

High-Flying Threatt Used to Professional Game

Jarvis Threatt is trying to follow a path that's becoming more and more common to the NBA. Threatt spent the last season in the NBA Development League after getting dismissed from the University of Delaware. In recent years, players like Glen Rice, Jr. and P.J. Hairston have spent a season in the D-League before entering the NBA Draft.

Threatt, a 6-2 guard, believes that his experience in the D-League better prepared him for the next level.

"After playing in the D-League this year, I've gained so much respect for it," Threatt said. "Playing against pros, the talent level... it's completely different from college, as far as the system and the gameplay. So I definitely feel like I have a leg up."

Playing for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Threatt averaged 12.9 points and 5.5 assists per game this past season. The Vipers, affiliates of the Houston Rockets, play at a blistering pace, averaging 123.3 points per game last season.

An explosive athlete with a 43-inch vertical, Threatt won the D-League Slam Dunk Contest last season. Playing at a faster pace (a style the Pacers brass has said they hope to adopt next season) seems to suit him very well.

"I'm an up-tempo guy," Threatt said. "Even in college we played up and down the floor, just having this year at Rio Grande we really pushed the tempo as far as being in shape and being in condition. That's what I love to do, get up and down the court."

Scott Hoping to Follow Matta's Pipeline to the Pros

Ohio State head coach Thad Matta has coached a slew of future NBA players. David West starred for Matta at Xavier, and since Matta has moved to Columbus, he's pumped out several lottery picks, from Greg Oden and Mike Conley to Evan Turner to Jared Sullinger.

Shannon Scott isn't projected to be a lottery pick. There's a good chance he doesn't hear his name called at all on draft night. But as a four-year player under Matta, Scott earned his coach's respect and improved each and every season.

"Give it your all and find a way to get on the court and stick with it, really," Scott said when asked the biggest lesson he learned in college. "Coaches want to see that. If you do that for them, they'll take care of you."

As a senior, Scott averaged 8.5 points, 5.9 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. A pesky defender, Scott amassed 211 steals in his career, the second-highest total in school history.

Scott has the skill set to be a solid distributor and defender as a professional. The biggest question mark regarding his game is his outside shooting. Scott was never a great shooter in college, converting just 27.9 percent of his attempts from 3-point range.

He said on Thursday that improving his shot has been his biggest focus over the past few months. Sure enough, he knocked down a couple jumpers in the short 3-on-3 session open to the media.

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.

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SEC Big Men Headline Thursday's Workout

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Pre-Draft Workouts: June 11, 2015

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Height: 6-1
Weight: 172
Position: PG
College: Delaware
Age: 22

2014-2015 Season Stats (With Rio Grande Valley of the D-League)

PPG: 12.9
RPG: 3.9
APG: 5.4
BLK: 0.2
STL: 1.4

As A Blue Hen
Third-year member of the Blue Hens who has earned two letters... All-CAA candidate… Preseason second team All-CAA selection… Expected to start in the Delaware backcourt… Excellent slasher to the basket who can also hit the three-pointer... Enters junior season ranked 11th in UD history with an 80.3 career free throw percentage.

2012-13 Season: Third team All-CAA selection… Appeared in 30 games while making 27 starts (missed three games with an abdominal injury suffered vs. Pitt)... Ranked second on the team with 13.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game… Led the Blue Hens with 97 assists and 54 steals… Ranked third in the CAA with 1.8 steals per game, sixth with a 1.3 assist/turnover ratio, seventh with 3.2 assists per game, eighth with a 79.1 free throw percentage, 10th with 4.6 defensive rebounds per game, 14th with 13.0 points per game, and 17th with 5.7 rebounds per game… Only player in the CAA to rank among the top 20 in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals… Scored in double figures during 22 games and reached the 20-point mark five times… Had two separate nine-game double figure scoring streaks (Dec. 16 through Jan. 23 and Feb. 9 through Mar. 9)... Led the Blue Hens with 17 points while adding six rebounds during the season opener at La Salle (11/10)... Scored 14 points while adding five rebounds in the triumph over Virginia (11/13)... Scored 15 points and handed out five assists at Villanova (12/16)... Named National 5 & 10 Best of the Blue Hens Athlete of the Week on Dec. 17… Scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds during the home win over Penn (12/21)... Scored 19 points in the victory at Old Dominion, tying the school record for free throws made by going 19 of 20 from the line (1/5)... Poured in 19 points while making a career-best six steals against Hofstra (1/9)... Scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds at Georgia State (1/12)... Scored 21 points and handed out a career-high seven assists versus Northeastern (1/19)... Scored 15 points and made four steals against UNCW (2/2)... Scored 20 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out six assists while posting his first career double-double at George Mason (2/9)... Recorded his second straight double-double with 10 points and a career-best 13 rebounds versus Old Dominion (2/11)... Led the Blue Hens with 20 points at Northeastern, and hit a game-winning three-pointer with 10 seconds left in overtime (2/13)... Scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds during the double overtime win over Drexel (2/21)... Recorded a season-high 23 points while adding 12 rebounds and five assists during the victory at UNCW (2/23)... Posted 12 points during the win at Hofstra, and scored five straight points after the game was tied at 48-48 with three minutes left (2/27)... Scored 20 points versus George Mason including a 13 of 14 performance from the foul line, and scored nine of UD’s final 10 points (3/2)... Hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 39 seconds left to put the Blue Hens in front for good… Scored 15 points during the victory over Hofstra in the CAA Tournament Quarterfinals (3/9).

2011-12 Season: Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie Team selection… Named to CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Freshman All-American Team… Appeared in all but one game (missed the Boston University game with a bruised knee), and started the first two contests… Ranked third on the Blue Hens with 10.7 points per game… Led the squad with 41 steals, ranked second with 70 assists, and was fourth with 3.9 rebounds per game… Averaged 16.3 points over the final 15 games… Reached double figures 14 times, including each of the final eight games of the year… Recorded the three highest scoring games by a UD freshman in school history… Ranked third in the CAA with an 81.8 free throw percentage… Set Blue Hen freshman single season records with 130 free throws made and 159 attempted… Grabbed a season-high nine rebounds during the win over Drexel (12/3)... Led the Blue Hens with 17 points and grabbed six rebounds at Howard (12/22)... Scored 30 points during the double overtime win over Georgia State (1/21)... Went 10 of 15 from the field including 6 of 9 from three-point range, and hit all five of his shots from behind the arc in the first half… Connected on six consecutive three-pointers, the second most in Delaware history… Scored 16 points at Drexel (1/28)... Scored a team-high 19 points to go with eight rebounds, six assists and three steals during the overtime win at Georgia State (2/11)... Went 13 of 15 from the free throw line and scored the Blue Hens’ final six points of overtime, all from the foul line… Scored a game-high 20 points and went 13 of 14 from the line during the win at Hofstra (2/14)... Scored 14 points against Hampton (2/18)... Scored 29 points and set UD freshman records by going 16 of 19 from the free throw line during the win at Towson (2/22)... Recorded 17 points against Northeastern (2/25)... Scored a UD freshman record 31 points during the CBI Tournament game at Butler (3/14), going 10 of 14 from the field while adding four steals… Named CAA Rookie of the Week on Jan. 23 and Feb. 27, and CAA Co-Rookie of the Week on Feb. 13 and Feb. 20… Selected National 5&10 Best of the Blue Hens Athlete of the Week on Jan. 23.

High School
Four-year member of the basketball team at Highland Springs High School… Named to Parade All-American third team as a senior… Averaged 25.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.8 steals, 4.5 assists and 1.9 blocks while leading the Springers to the district regular season and tournament titles… Also helped Highland Springs to the Central Region finals and the state semifinals… First team All-State selection… First team All-Region, All-Metro and All-District pick… Named the Player of the Year in the Region, Metro, and District… Selected Richmond Dispatch Player of the Year… McDonald’s All-America nominee… Selected to East squad in Virginia High School Coaches Association All-Star Game… Also was an All-District and All-Region honoree as a junior... Averaged 19.6 points, 2.6 assists and 3.0 steals during junior year… Scored over 1,000 points during his career.

Personal
Jarvis Lorenzo Threatt… Son of Jay Threatt, Sr. and Cheryl Threatt… Older brother, Jay, played basketball at Delaware State… Father played basketball at Virginia State University… Distant cousin of Sedale Threatt who played in the NBA from 1983-97 with the 76ers, Bulls, SuperSonics, Lakers and Rockets… Enjoys drawing, playing Xbox and buying shoes in his free time… Sociology major at Delaware.

Jarvis Threatt

SEC Big Men Headline Thursday's Workout

Pre-Draft Workouts: June 11, 2015

Jarvis Threatt: 2015 Draft Prospect

Pre-Draft Workout Participants: June 11, 2015