Kay Felder

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Representatives from all the local media outlets were on hand for Monday's pre-draft workout at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, gathering to talk with Purdue's Caleb Swanigan.

Less local but more intriguing was a player who preceded Swanigan off the practice court and slipped virtually unnoticed through the aisle between the waiting reporters, most of whom likely didn't know his name, his story or his prospects.

Kay Felder is 5-foot-9. Might as well get that out of the way from the start, because that's the defining statistic of his basketball career, and will be the biggest factor in his fate in the NBA Draft on June 23. A player 6-foot-3 or taller who could do the things he can do would likely be a lottery pick. Most mock drafts have him pegged as a late second-round pick, one who could be available to the Pacers with their 50th overall selection.

"I don't really care if I go drafted or undrafted," he said following Monday's workout, in which he played well according to eyewitnesses. "I know what I bring to the team: leadership, defense, high energy...whatever a team needs I'll do it."

RELATED: Decision Nearing for Swanigan »   The Road Unexpected: Bentil Bound for the NBA »

Fortunately for Felder, a couple of other players with similar size and skill sets have gone before him, helping to clear the path of lingering prejudice and skepticism, and proving to NBA executives height doesn't matter if you're quick enough, tough enough and good enough. Comparisons to a couple of other 5-9 guards, Nate Robinson and Isaiah Thomas, are as valid as they are inevitable.

Felder – actually 5-8 1/4 in his bare feet – had to settle for a mid-major scholarship coming out of Detroit Pershing High School because coaches for the "majors" weren't particularly enthralled with such a vertically-challenged point guard. He proved them wrong, over and over again, in his three seasons at Oakland University, located near Auburn Hills, Mich., where the Detroit Pistons play their home games. Three years later, entering the draft after three college seasons, he's planning to clear the same hurdles in the NBA.

He averaged 24.2 points his final college season, tied for third in the nation. He passed out 9.3 assists, first in the nation, and two steals. He was the Horizon League's Freshman of the Year, and its Player of the Year and a third-team All-American selection as a junior. His assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.7-to-1 made him the fourth-most efficient guard in the country.

He saved his best for the best. He scored 38 against Washington in December. Three nights later, he had 37 points and nine assists in a nationally televised overtime loss to Michigan State, which was ranked No. 1 at the time. He had 21 points at halftime of that game, with no turnovers. A week later against fifth-ranked Virginia, a team noted for its defense, he scored 30.

He cashed in his chips in those games – the chips on his shoulders. One represents his indignation at being ignored by the major programs because of his height. The other, he said in a New York Times article, represents his desire to prove himself. He said after Monday's practice at The Fieldhouse that the second chip represented his desire to please his family, claiming "It's a joyous moment when I put smiles on their faces." So, while the chips might be changed out from time to time, they still provide motivation.

He also could find inspiration from the careers of Robinson and Thomas, among others.

Robinson, drafted with the 21st pick in 2005, played at least parts of 14 NBA seasons. He was a journeyman, playing for eight teams, but averaged 11 points overall and compiled an impressive highlight reel. He was a three-time slam-dunk champion over All-Star Weekend, and had several brilliant individual performances. He scored 41 points against the Pacers on Feb. 23, 2009 while playing for New York, and came back with 32 points against Orlando the next game. He averaged 17.2 points that season.

Thomas was the last player drafted in 2011, 60th overall. He's already on his third team, Boston, but was an All-Star this season. He scored a career-high 38 points against the Pacers on Jan. 23, then topped that with 42 against Atlanta in the playoffs.

Felder – his real name is Kahlil, but he prefers Kay for its simplicity – is well aware of the analogies, and embraces them. He's also been compared to Kemba Walker, a relative giant at 6-foot-1, who averaged 20.9 points last season for Charlotte. One of Oakland's assistant coaches, Saddi Washington (who has since been hired at Michigan), made an out-of-the-box comparison to former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders for his unique mobility.

Felder seems an increasingly good fit for an NBA that is essentially growing smaller because of the way the game is being played. The rule in 1994 that eliminated hand-checking has made it easier for smaller players to utilize their quickness and get to the basket. The tempo is faster and the lane less congested as players become more athletic and 3-point shooting improves. In a league where guys like the 6-foot-7 Draymond Green occasionally play center, 5-9 point guards seem to have less of a disadvantage.

Felder has a couple of gifts that help him overcome his standing altitude. His 6-2 ½ wingspan adds length, and his vertical jump of 44 inches – one of the best ever recorded at the Chicago pre-draft combine – allows him to play taller. Check out his highlight clips, and you can watch him on the receiving end of lob passes for one-handed slam-dunks.

The primary concern, obviously, for a player of Felder's size will be defense. How would he fare against a 6-foot-5 point guard? He wasn't encouraged to put too much emphasis on defense at Oakland because the team couldn't afford to have him in foul trouble, so that's been a point of emphasis in his pre-draft workouts, where he's defended baseline to baseline. He's demonstrated the quickness to stay in front of ballhandlers as well as pick off steals; he had six of them in 47 minutes in his two scrimmages in Chicago.

Break down his game, and you find a player who can create space with his ballhandling. Although he's a capable catch-and-shoot marksman, he's best off the dribble, whether moving sideways or executing a quick step-back, along the lines of Steph Curry. He wasn't accurate from the 3-point line in shooting drills following Monday's workout for the Pacers, but was said to be much better in live action, when defended.

He can hit floaters, execute pick-and-rolls, drive-and-kick to open teammates, or reject ball screens and find an opening for himself off the dribble. He also welcomes contact around the basket to get to the foul line. He averaged 8.1 free throw attempts his final season at Oakland, and hit 85 percent of them.

The intangibles are exceptional, too. He was an honor roll student in high school and comes from a tightly-knit family with basketball bloodlines. His father, Kahlil, played at Eastern Michigan from 1990-92. Felder honed his competitive spirit in games against his father and older brother, Michael, who gave up nothing easily.

"That's how I do my little brother (Armanee)," he said. "I don't let him win."

Felder's energy and competitive spirit will give him the best chance of duplicating or surpassing the careers of Robinson and Thomas. You can see it in the video clips, and you don't have to talk with him long to hear it.

That 44-inch vertical jump in Chicago? It left him frustrated more than proud after he found out it wasn't the best all-time effort.

"I'm kind of mad," he said Monday. "Second place is the first loser."

Those standout games against the likes of Washington, Michigan State and Virginia this past season? Definitely payback for not recruiting him out of high school.

"That's just how life is; life is unfair," he said. "They felt there were other players better than me. I just felt like when I saw them, I'd give it to them."

He didn't exactly let up in the less glamorous games, though. He failed to score 20 points just five times last season, and never dipped below 13. The games against Horizon League opponents were important, too.

"I hate to lose," he said. "It just kills me. If you're not competitive, you're in it for the wrong reasons. I just go all out and leave it all out there."

Felder will be one of the smallest players but one of the biggest mysteries of the draft. His stock appears to be rising based on his pre-draft performances, and players such as Thomas have made 5-9 point guards more fashionable. He'll just have to wait and see who's willing to take a small risk on him.

Regardless, he doesn't plan to be sitting in front of a television set all evening, waiting for his name to be called.

"I'll probably be in the gym somewhere, honestly," he said. "I don't think I 'll watch it. I'll just wait to get that call."

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nba-teams-sizing-up-felder

NBA Teams Sizing Up Felder

Wheat Hotchkiss

The Pacers held their third pre-draft workout on Monday morning at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, welcoming six more prospects for next month's NBA Draft to Indianapolis for testing, drills, and interviews.

There was a nice symmetry to the six players who were in the building on Monday, as the Pacers' brass took a look at a pair of point guards, a pair of wings, and a pair of big men.

A large local media contingent was on hand to speak to one of those big men, 2015 Indiana Mr. Basketball Caleb Swanigan. Thanks to the new early-entry rules, Swanigan was able to declare for the draft without hiring an agent and has been able to take part in the NBA Draft Combine and workouts with teams over the past few weeks without making a decision as to whether he wants to remain in the draft or return to Purdue for his sophomore season.

That decision will be coming soon, however, as the deadline for Swanigan to make up his mind is this Wednesday. Pacers.com's Mark Montieth wrote about Swanigan, who said on Monday that he is still weighing his options.

But though most eyes were focused on the undecided Swanigan, the other big man in Indianapolis on Monday is the player with the best chance of getting drafted in the first round. That would be 6-9 power forward Ben Bentil, fresh off a spectacular sophomore season at Providence College.

Just like Swanigan, Bentil initially declared for the draft without signing an agent to leave his options open. But after a strong performance at the Combine and in workouts with teams, Bentil announced on Sunday night that he would remain in the draft rather than return to school. Most mock drafts have Bentil going in the late first or early second round. Jason McIntyre from The Big Lead currently has the Pacers taking him with the 20th overall pick.

"After the other workouts with other teams and after the Combine, I sat down with my family and I realized this is the best decision," Bentil said.

The past few years have been a whirlwind for Bentil, who moved to the United States from his home country of Ghana at the age of 15. While he was always an excellent athlete (he's also a gifted soccer player, earning first-team All-State honors in high school), Bentil came to America for academic purposes.

Bentil eventually wound up at St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Del., a prestigious boarding school (you may recognize the campus — it's where they filmed the Robin Williams classic Dead Poets Society). At St. Andrew's, Bentil challenged himself in the classroom and excelled on the hardwood, eventually earning a scholarship to Providence.

He enjoyed some success as a freshman with the Friars, averaging 6.4 points and 4.9 rebounds over 21.5 minutes per game. But Bentil's game really took off in his sophomore season, when he was arguably the most improved player in the entire country. His scoring average increased by 14.7 points per game to 21.1, making him the leading scorer in the Big East, even though he shared the court with All-American guard Kris Dunn, a potential top-five pick in next month's draft.

Butler fans are likely all too familiar with Bentil after he torched them in the Big East Tournament, scoring 38 points and collecting eight rebounds while going 16-for-24 from the field and 5-for-9 from 3-point range. That was arguably not even his best game of the year — his resume also includes a 42-point, 12-rebound performance at Marquette.

It's easy to see what scouts love about Bentil. At 6-9 and 230 pounds, he has more than enough size to play the power forward position in the modern NBA. He's a good rebounder and athletic enough to guard smaller players on the wing, but Bentil's best long-term attribute might be his shooting stroke.

He was a bit streaky in college, shooting just a hair under 33 percent from 3-point range, but Bentil has good mechanics and projects to be a solid shooter at the NBA level (it's worth noting that Myles Turner, praised for his shooting ability in last year's draft class, shot just 27.4 percent from 3-point range in his one year in college).

Bentil impressed once again at the Combine a few weeks ago, putting up solid numbers in a pair of five-on-five games. He buried a couple threes and tallied 15 points on just eight shots to go along with 11 rebounds on Thursday, then followed up with a team-high 17 points and six boards in another scrimmage on Friday.

Since declaring for the draft, Bentil has been working out with Providence legend God Shammgod. Shammgod teamed with future Pacers forward Austin Croshere to lead the Friars on a Cinderella run to the 1997 Elite Eight and is widely acclaimed for his handles (just do yourself a favor and YouTube "Shammgod crossover"). Bentil has leaned heavily on advice from Shammgod, who played in 20 games for the Washington Bullets before embarking on a lengthy career overseas.

"One thing he always taught me was to compete, follow your heart," Bentil said. "I can miss 100 shots out here and I'm going to still compete and I'm going to shoot the next one. That's one thing that I liked that he instilled in me, just to never let yourself down."

Bentil doesn't think he would let the Pacers down if they call his name on draft night, exactly a month from Monday. The 21-year-old could be a logical fit in between All-Star Paul George and rising star Turner in the Pacers' frontcourt.

"My versatility, my intensity, hard work," Bentil said when asked what he could bring to the Pacers. "This is a team that's relentless. They just pressure and try to play up-and-down and I think that that fits with my game."

It's been quite the ride for Bentil, who just a few short years ago left Ghana for a chance to better himself. He admitted on Monday he could never have imagined where that decision would lead.

"I didn't grow up dreaming to play in the NBA," Bentil said. "It's just an opportunity...I'll take advantage of it and I'm glad God helped me to this point."

Barber, Felder Engage in Increasingly Familiar Head-to-Head Battle

While Bentil and Swanigan battled in the post on Monday, a pair of prolific point guards had their own duel on the perimeter.

Anthony "Cat" Barber and Kay Felder were two of the NCAA's leading scorers in 2015-16. Barber's 23.5 points per game led the ACC and ranked seventh in the nation. Felder's scoring average of 24.2 tied for third in the country.

The two players are becoming increasingly familiar with one another's games. They squared off in a scrimmage at the Combine and have now been part of the same workout with two different NBA teams.

Both Barber and Felder elected to turn pro after their junior seasons and both are currently projected as likely second-round picks.

Felder is one of the shortest players in this year's draft class at 5-foot-9, but he's also an exceptional athlete. He set a Combine record with a 44-inch vertical leap and possesses tremendous speed.

"He's a great player," Barber said about his counterpart. "He's short, but he's got a lot of heart."

Though he starred at Pershing High School in Detroit (alma mater of several NBA stars including late Pacers great Mel Daniels, Spencer Haywood, Kevin Willis, and Felder's cousin Steve Smith), Felder wasn't a heralded recruit and wound up enrolling at nearby Oakland University.

Felder proved his doubters wrong early and often in his college career. His offensive numbers from his last year with the Grizzlies almost don't seem real — not only did he rank near the top of the NCAA's scoring charts, but he also led the country in assists, averaging 9.3 per game.

Felder isn't just an example of a player padding his stats against inferior competition, either. He had 38 points and nine assists in December when Oakland took then-number-one Michigan State to overtime in East Lansing. A week later, he dropped 30 points in Charlottesville against fifth-ranked Virginia's heralded defense.

Felder believes he has the game to succeed at the next level. He uses his speed to pull off a wide arsenal of moves to get off his shot, drawing comparisons to Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas, another undersized player who has gone from the last pick in the 2011 draft to an All-Star in 2016.

"I can score the ball, I can pass with the best of them," Felder said. "I think I can do just about everything I did in college. It's a much faster game, but that's how my game is designed. I'm a fast, quick guy and that's how I like to play."

Felder's biggest focus in the pre-draft process is on being "a pest" on defense. He did that in spades at the Combine, tallying six steals in just 47 minutes between the two scrimmages.

At 6-3, Barber has a little better size than Felder, but still is having to answer questions about his ability to adapt to the next level.

He broke out in a big way as a junior, increasing his scoring average by 11.4 points. But he racked up his stats on an NC State team that struggled mightily, going 5-13 in the ACC.

Like Felder, Barber relies heavily on his speed to get his points. He thrives in transition and is an excellent ball-handler. He also demonstrated considerable improvement on his outside shot over his time in Raleigh, improving his percentage from .261 as a freshman to over 36 percent in each of his final two seasons with the Wolfpack.

Barber is most eager to prove that he is more than just a scorer at the next level. He averaged 4.5 assists in his junior season and demonstrated an ability to make plays for others in his one scrimmage at the Combine, where he dished out six assists in 22 minutes.

"I'm pretty sure (NBA teams) know I can score the ball from what I did in college," Barber said on Monday. "So I just want to show that I can do other things like get other people involved."

Athletic Wings Moore, Sulaimon Make Their Case

The last two players in Monday's workout were also the lone four-year college players in the group, Tennessee's Armani Moore and Maryland's Rasheed Sulaimon. Both players are athletic wings trying their best to earn a spot on an NBA roster.

The 6-4 Moore was a jack-of-all trades for the Volunteers. He was originally recruited to Knoxville as point guard by Cuonzo Martin. Two coaching changes and a ton of roster turnover forced Moore to move around for the Vols and he wound up logging a lot of time as an undersized power forward during his senior year.

Moore responded with an excellent all-around senior season. He led Tennessee in rebounding, assists, and blocks while ranking second in both scoring and steals. While he projects as a shooting guard or small forward at the next level, Moore said that the toughness he picked up playing in the post will serve him well at the next level.

The biggest knock on Moore is his shooting. He shot just 31.6 percent from 3-point range and 56.5 percent from the free-throw line as a senior. Fully aware of his deficiencies, Moore has spent most of his draft preparation working on fine-tuning his mechanics (one key is making sure he keeps his eye on the rim through his release).

"I think it starts with confidence," Moore said about his shot. "Once you have the confidence, I think the sky's the limit. I think reps has been a big key for me, just (being) in the gym on a consistent basis putting up tons of shots every day."

Moore is close friends with former Tennessee stars Jordan McRae and Josh Richardson, second-round picks from the past two drafts who have carved out successful careers in the NBA. McRae, the 58th pick in 2014, scored a D-League record 61 points in January and is currently gaining valuable experience with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Richardson, the 40th pick in 2015, averaged 27.6 minutes per game in the playoffs as a rookie with the Miami Heat, playing a valuable role as a combo guard off the bench.

As he embarks on the pre-draft process, Moore has leaned heavily on his former teammates' guidance, talking regularly via text and FaceTime.

"They just say once you get your opportunity, you've got to be ready," Moore said. "...That's what both of those guys did, so I'm looking to follow their footsteps."

Sulaimon seemed like a potential lottery pick after a stellar freshman season at Duke during the 2012-13 season, when he averaged 11.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. But his stock stalled over the next few years. After transferring to Maryland for his senior season, the 6-4 guard averaged a strikingly similar 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.

Despite his static statistics, Sulaimon believes he has grown considerably in his breadth of knowledge.

"My first couple years in college, I was just playing off of raw talent," Sulaimon said. "As I got older, the way you see the game is different.

"I think what I can bring to the table is my versatility, both offensively and defensively. I can guard multiple positions, on the ball and off the ball. And I can also play on and off the ball offensively."

Sulaimon's strengths might be enough to earn him a spot on an NBA roster. He is an excellent defensive player, routinely guarding the opposition's best player both at Duke and Maryland. He is also a consistent outside shooter. He shot a career-best 42.3 from 3-point range last season, his third straight year with a 3-point percentage over .400.

With that skillset, Sulaimon seems tailor-made for a "3-and-D" role off the bench at the next level.

"I know that's going to be my ticket into the NBA," Sulaimon said. "...That's definitely a thing that I'm willing and capable of doing."

Watch one-on-one interviews with all six prospects at Monday's pre-draft workout in the video player below.

the-road-unexpected-bentil-bound-for-the-nba

The Road Unexpected: Bentil Bound for the NBA

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Height: 5-10
Weight: 177
Position: PG
College: Oakland
Age: 21

PPG: 24.4
RPG: 4.4
APG: 9.3
BLK: 0.2
STL: 2.0

CAREER NOTES (JUNIOR SEASON)
Associated Press All-American Third Team selection ... Sporting News and NABC All-American Third Team honoree ... Named Horizon League Player of the Year and All-Horizon League first team ... Selected as finalist for John R. Wooden Award and the Bob Cousy Award ... Named to NABC All-District first team for second year in a row ... Led the nation with 9.3 assists per game including 19 games with double-digit assists ... Ranked fourth in the country at 24.4 points per game ... Scored 20 or more points in 30 of 35 games, including five games with 30-plus points ... Collected 15 games of at least 20 points and 10 assists ... Against Power-5 opponents, averaged 32.0 points, 6.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game ... Recorded second-career triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in semifinals of Vegas 16, only the program's second triple-double ... Set career-high scoring 38 points with 14 field goals at Washington (12/19) ... Recorded career-best 16 assists in regular season finals vs. Detroit (2/26) ... Finished with 37 points and nine assists against then-No. 1 Michigan State (12/22) ... Scored 30 points against Virginia who finished the season as the second-ranked scoring defense in the country ... Broke the Horizon League career and single-season assists records ... Set Horizon League record for most HL Player of the Week honors in a single-season with seven ... Named to Wooden Award Late and Midseason List, ESPN's Dick Vitale's Mid-Season All-Rolls Royce Team, NBCSports.com's Midseason All-American Third Team and Sports Illustrated's Midseason mid-Major Player of the Year ... Ranks ninth on Oakland's all-time scoring list and third on the all-time assists list

2014-15 (SOPHOMORE)
Lou Henson Award Finalist (given to the mid-major player of the year) ... Mid-Major All-American ... All-Horizon League First Team ... Two-time Horizon League Player of the Week (1/5, 2/2)  ... Only player in the country to average at least 17.0 points and 7.0 assists per game ... No. 2 in the NCAA with 7.6 assists per game ... Played 12 entire games and finished third with 38.5 minutes played per game ... Lead the league with 8 20-point games in HL play ... Recorded 7 or more assists in 21 of 33 games ... Tallied 6 double-doubles this season ... Poured in a career-high 37 points vs. Eastern Illinois (3/17) in opening round of CIT, adding 11 assists ... Broke single-game league and school records with 24 FT attempts, and his 19 made FTs ranks No. 2 in league and school history vs. Valpo (1/2)

2013-14 (FRESHMAN)
Horizon League Freshman of the Year ... Member of the League All-Freshman Team ... Named Freshman of the Week a league-best 7 times ... Finished No. 7 in the NCAA with 6.4 assists per game ... Posted the program's first-ever triple-double vs. Detroit (2/14) with 15 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds ... Only player in the league to record points-assists double-doubles (3) ... Had a league-best 6 double-figure assist games ... Reached double figures in 18 games ... Dished out a career-best 12 assists in both regular-season games vs. Youngstown State (1/31, 3/1) ... Scored a career-high 25 points vs. Milwaukee (1/8) ... Posted 7 or more assists in 16 games

HIGH SCHOOL
Named PSL MVP ... Garnered all-state, all-area and all-city accolades ... Led team to an undefeated regular season and PSL title ... Won three city championships (2009, '11, '12) ... Played in the Michigan All-Star Game ... Two-time captain ... Detroit Free Press Dream Team

Kay Felder

NBA Teams Sizing Up Felder

The Road Unexpected: Bentil Bound for the NBA

Kay Felder: 2016 Draft Prospect