Jamaal Franklin NBA Draft Workout and Interview

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

The top player that we saw at Impact Basketball was San Diego State junior Jamaal Franklin. The 6’5 wing shot the lights out of the ball from the NBA three point line, which was a bit unexpected given that he only shot 28% from three in college. Also, Franklin showed off the ability to create his own shot on anyone and great court vision for a wing, leaving no doubt in our mind that he’s going to be selected in the mid-first round come next June’s Draft.

Here’s our full interview with Franklin touching on the work he put in to get where he is, how he slipped under the radar, and what he learned from Coach Fisher at San Diego State.

CityLeagueHoops: Tell me a little bit about your progression as a player. How did you develop from a guy not ranked in the top 150 to a guy who has a chance of cracking the lottery?

Jamaal Franklin: Just a lot of hard work. I’ve always been a person to work hard and when you work hard, you get better. I’ve never been comfortable in what I’ve achieved or accomplished. I’ve always wanted to go higher, and higher, and higher.

CLH: You played with a good AAU team on the Nike circuit with Cal Supreme…How do you think you slipped through the cracks the way you did?

JF: I think it has a lot to do with where I played high school at in the high desert. I was playing at Cerrano and I felt like I wasn’t getting that much interest from colleges or as far as rankings. My AAU team, California Supreme, was one of the top in the country, though. It didn’t really bother me because I knew at the end of the day, we’d all be on the court somehow, some way.

CLH: Having watched you since high school, you always thrived in transition but then took your game to another level at San Diego State. How has your game evolved as a whole?

JF: I was always known as an athlete, but I didn’t ALWAYS want to be known as an athlete. During my freshman year, I just matured as a player. Each year that I got older, I just kept getting smarter and smarter as a player.

CLH: What are you really looking to improve on here at Impact during the pre-draft process?

JF: Getting smarter and developing an NBA IQ. I’d also like to reduce my turnovers, tighten my ball-handling, and shoot the ball more consistently.

CLH: What do you think that you’re going to surprise teams with in workouts?

JF: I think that I”m really going to shock teams with how I shoot the ball.

CLH: At San Diego State, you were primarily a transition threat. What are some of the things that you didn’t really get to show in college?

JF: I’m a great one on one player. At San Diego State, basketball was more of a team effort. All I want to do is win. I’m a real good one on one player and going into the NBA this year, I’m going to have way more space to work with.

CLH: Playing under Steve Fisher, you learned from a guy who coached countless NBA players. What would you say the most important thing you learned from Coach Fisher was?

JF: Just being mature and using your head. Think before everything you do.

CLH: You were a player who had the option of bouncing to the NBA last season or transferring to a bigger school, yet you stayed at SDSU and helped build them into one of the better mid-major programs in the country. Why did you come back for your junior year?

JF: I had things left to prove and if you win, we’ll all end up on the same court. You’ll make the NCAA tournament. You’ll play against Kansas. You’ll play against Oklahoma. I just feel that if you win and work hard, everyone is going to wind up at the same place.

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Marvin Bagley–7th grade prodigy

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

Marvin Bagley III is of a special breed. It’s rare that you see any player catch an alley-oop from a baseline out of bounds play, and is an absolute anomaly to see a 7th grader do it. Marvin Bagley did that this weekend, en route to putting on a dominant performance to help lead the We Can Go AAU program cruise to an easy championship at the Hoosier Invitational in Indianapolis.

A face-up power forward at this point, Bagley has all of the makings of a small forward down the road. He shows range out to the three point line, always has his head up to find the open man, and has shown the ability to put the ball on the deck at times. At 6’7, he utilizes his immense size on both ends by posting smaller defenders and blocking a ton of shots. Additionally, his athleticism enables him to throw down dunks that no other 7th grader in the country can in games, making him one of the more exciting players to watch.

As dealing with any player before they reach high school, there are so many variables that can change, which is why it is unfair to don anyone the “next” anything. However, Bagley is as close as it comes. Already holding an offer from Northern Arizona, schools from the PAC-12 and SEC have expressed interest in him and given his immense talents, expect him to be atop most 2018 rankings when they are released initially.

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Anthony Bennett NBA Draft Workout

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

Future lottery pick Anthony Bennett is on the shelf for the next four months after having surgery on his shoulder, but before he went under the knife, he was diligently putting in work with trainer Jay Hernandez in Long Island. Here’s a look at what the daily grind for Bennett was like post-injury.

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Warren Ward NBA Draft Workout and Interview

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

Canada’s top college prospect, Warren Ward, was a late addition to the loaded group of players that he saw in Las Vegas at Impact Basketball. The 6’5 swingman surprised everyone in attendance with his ability to score off of the dribble, showing a high level of productivity in the 5-on-5 action. Deemed an International prospect, he is now an unrestricted free agent with workouts for the Magic, Raptors, and others scheduled over the next month.

Here is a lengthy interview with him detailing his journey, what he is looking to improve on at Impact, and how it feels to be a part of the massive Canadian basketball movement.

CityLeagueHoops: You’ve had an interesting road to bring you to where you are today. Tell me a little about your journey.

Warren Ward: Wow, where do I begin? I started playing basketball when I was about 13. I moved from London to Brampton. I ended up going to the University of Ottawa even though I had a couple of scholarship offers. I just didn’t think it would be a good fit for me to go and venture out to play D-1 basketball at the time. At the University of Ottawa, I got to work on my game and got an extra year of development being able to play five years. I became one of the best players in the country, if not the best. Now I got the opportunity to come out here to Las Vegas and as I always like to say, opportunities bring success.

CLH: You mentioned being recruited by some D-1 schools. Who were some of the specific schools that were recruiting you out of high school?

WW: I had the University of Detroit, Niagara, Indiana, Memphis showed some interest, and then Middle Tennessee state was after me the hardest. Of course, IU and Memphis were the biggest schools. At the time, the influx of Canadian players hadn’t started. It wasn’t until two years after I was at the University of Ottawa that I started to hear about all of these players going over to the States. It didn’t really discourage me because I knew that I could be there.

CLH: Training at Impact, you’ve turned a lot of heads and drawn a bit of a buzz. What NBA teams have reached out to you?

WW: No teams have come to me directly, but any interest that teams have in me goes through my agent. I’m still a bit of an unknown and apparently everyone just wants to know who I am since I kind of popped up out of the blue. It’s unfortunate that it is that way, but it’s the reality of things.

CLH: You were in a unique situation based on the fact that you just graduated college, yet are ineligible for the NBA Draft since you were deemed an International prospect. Is it a bit disappointing that you aren’t going to get to go through the Draft process?

WW: At first I wasn’t disappointed because I didn’t have any intentions on entering the NBA Draft; I just came here to get better. Now it’s a little disappointing hearing that I would have had a chance to be a second round pick and realizing that I”m good enough. It’s frustrating because I just finished college and am about to graduate…It’s not like I went pro, or anything like that.

CLH: What are you really trying to focus on the most in your game out at Impact?

WW: I’m really trying to work on my attack moves, specifically my ball handling and attacking the rim. I think that the play here is becoming more of an athletic game with running and jumping. I think that I have the skills, but I want to be a better finisher and overall scorer. That entails working on my handle and being more explosive at the rim.

CLH: Now you had told me that teams in France were already showing interest in you. What European teams have you been hearing from?

WW: I had a big agent in France contact me with first division offers to play in France, Germany, and Luxembourg.

CLH: How does it feel to now be a part of the ever so growing Canadian basketball movement and have the chance to potentially play in the league?

WW: It’s a blessing, man. Coming where I came from, this is amazing. I tore my ACL last year and now I’m the second player ever from a Canadian University to ever have a chance to play in the league. It gives other kids hope in that they don’t necessarily have to come down here to play the game at a high level. There are other avenues that you can take to reach the top.

CLH: Making the unique decision to go to a Canadian University to play basketball as opposed to a D-1 school, what do you think you gained the most from the process?

WW: I learned a lot about myself. I had an opportunity to be the guy and that was a big thing for me. I matured and developed on the basketball court both as a leader and a playmaker. I led my team in pretty much every category besides scoring ironically, because that’s my best attribute. I was always a natural born scorer, but the process made me a playmaker as well. I think I’m more mature than most guys my age (even those who play in the NBA) because I’ve had to be the guy who was a leader and make all the plays, so now when I’m somewhere that I”m not in that position, it will make things so much easier for me.

To read more about Warren’s workout at Impact, check out this SLAM Magazine article.

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Christian Watford NBA Draft Workout and Interview

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

We checked out versatile Indiana power forward Christian Watford workout alongside Victor Oladipo when we were in Bloomington, and he did not disappoint. Former LA Clippers scout Seth Cooper put Watford through a rigorous workout, allowing us to see the immense potential that he has as a pick and pop power forward.

For more on the workout, check out the full SLAM Magazine article. Here’s Watford talking about the IU resurgence, how his role changed over the years, and what he’s going to surprise teams with in the workout process:

CityLeagueHoops: You’ve contributed since day one at Indiana, but have had a different role each year. How have things changed for you on a year to year basis?

Christian Watford: We’ve got a lot of guys around us who have gotten better over the years, so I don’t have to do too much. Before, I had to do a bit more scoring and shooting the ball. These guys did a great job of getting me open and now I’ve been able to knock down the three ball consistently.

CLH: One of the biggest improvements that you’ve made is in your three point shot, which jumped nearly 20% over your career. How’d you take your shooting to that next level?

CW: We just have a lot more guys here who took a lot more shots. I think that I took less shots this year than I did my freshman year, but I got some great looks, which is why I shot the ball at such a high rate.

CLH: What do you think that you’re going to surprise teams with during your workouts?

CW: I think that I’m going to surprise teams with my athleticism and the way that I can guard on the defensive end. I’m going to be able to be a stretch four or a three at the next level and the way that the game has evolved, they’re practically the same thing.

CLH: What do you feel that you improved on the most during your four years at Indiana?

CW: My defense. My entire skill set has gotten a whole lot better and I feel that I can do a lot more in terms of putting the ball on the court.

CLH: What was it like to be a part of Indiana’s resurgence from the ground floor up?

CW: I was definitely one of those guys who endured the hard times here. It’s just a constant grind. The main thing was that we had a lot of guys here who wanted to get better and we weren’t going to stay complacent. When we started to get a little success, we stayed hungry and that only got us better and better.

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Andrew Wiggins Chooses Kansas–Full Career Mix

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

The Andrew Wiggins saga has finally come to an end. Truthfully though, had the media given him some sort of privacy, it wouldn’t have been a saga at all. Wiggins is just a player who wanted his privacy and desired to take his time to make his college choice without all of the constant media scrutiny, and today is the day that everything will finally reach it’s conclusion. Starting from the beginning, we’ll tell you how things got to where they are today.

I co-directed a SLAM Magazine camp in October of 2009 when Canadian grassroots coach Ro Russell told me about this 6’6 8th grader that he had who he thought was the top player in his class. Reluctant to put a middle school player in an event that had the likes of Reggie Bullock, CJ Leslie, Montrezl Harrell, Dez Wells, and PJ Hairston, I still took Russell for his word and allowed his 8th grade prodigy in the camp. With a buzz growing about the dominant performance he was putting on in the back gym, a crowd began to convey from the main court to check out the intriguing Canadian. The rest is history, as seen by this Hoopmixtape video with 4.5 million views.

Wiggins then spent his 8th grade season playing for Russell at Christian Faith Center Academy in North Carolina. Playing alongside Kansas recruit Braedon Anderson and Texas recruit Kevin Thomas, he thrived despite playing against mostly 19 year olds. After averaging around 20 points per game at CFCA, he became homesick and made the move back to Canada for his freshman season.

Going back home to Toronto, he spent his freshman campaign at Vaughn Secondary School. Our friends over at Flagrant Fouls were there to cover most of his games. It was here that people really began to understand how special a talent Wiggins was and by the time he made his debut in the Nike EYBL with CIA Bounce, the buzz was already there.

Wiggins showed off downright special athleticism for an absolutely loaded CIA Bounce squad. Unquestionably the top freshman in the country, ESPN actually had Trey Lyles ranked ahead of him in the 2014 rankings at one point. While Andrew has never been known to be one to pay attention to the media, something got under his skin and he solidified himself as the undoubted top player in the class of 2014 on the 2011 grassroots circuit.

Making the move to Huntington Prep for his sophomore campaign, a star was born. Even though the Huntington faithful didn’t quite come out the way they did to see O.J. Mayo, scouts were flocking down I-64 to get another glimpse at Wiggins. CityLeagueHoops was at just about every Huntington game during his sophomore campaign and simply put, there were things that he was doing on the court that no other player in high school basketball could imagine doing. The debate was posed as to who had the most NBA potential out of Shabazz Muhammad, Jabari Parker, and Andrew (who were all ranked #1 at the time) and the answer was easy: Mr. Wiggins.

What turned out to be Andrew’s junior/senior seasons was a frenzy, to say the least. He started things off by announcing that he was going to reclassify to 2013, given that the Canadian education system requires five years of high school compared to the United States’ four. A National schedule in gyms that were packed with crazed UK fans followed. Huntington Prep had one goal on their mind, and that was to win the ESPN Rise National Championship. Finishing 30-3 with a loaded schedule, they should have easily qualified. However, the grey areas in the RISE rules kept Huntington out, yet let others in similar situations in. It was a disappointing end to Wiggins’ high school career, but anyone who had the chance to see him didn’t leave the gym disappointed at all.

Here’s a video timeline of Wiggins evolution, moving from his senior year to the beginning:

Andrew going into his senior season, showing off his total game

Wiggins bringing LeBron and Carmelo to their feet at the 2012 LeBron James Skills Academy

Andrew’s sophomore season mix

Wiggins leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind that he’s top player in 2014 (summer going into soph year)

Andrew’s freshman season mix via Flagrant Fouls

Andrew Wiggins 8th grade highlights via Hoopmixtape

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Mark Lyons NBA Draft Workout and Interview

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

We recently had the chance to catch up with Arizona’s Mark Lyons while he was in LA training with Tyrell Jamerson. We chatted it up with Lyons about why he left Xavier, what he is looking to improve on during the pre-draft process, and what he will bring to an NBA team.

To read the full SLAM Magazine article on the workout, click here.

CityLeagueHoops: When Tu Holloway left Xavier, the door was open for a starting point guard. Why did you decide to transfer to Arizona instead of spending your senior year at Xavier?

Mark Lyons: I felt that they were going to put Semaj Christon at point guard and play me at the shooting guard. I wanted to play point guard my last year, so I decided to go play for my first coach, Sean Miller.

CLH: You played point guard for the first time at a high level this season in the PAC-12. How do you think you fared?

ML: I think I did really well. We were undefeated in non-conference, I was first team All PAC-12, and we made it to the Sweet Sixteen. I feel like I did a great job for my first year at a new school with a bunch of young guys.

CLH: What was the biggest adjustment that you had to make as a first year point guard at such a high level?

ML: The hardest part for me was playing with a new team. I had to build chemistry with a bunch of new guys. Personally, I thought I did well and the team did well.

CLH: What are you really looking to show teams in the workouts?

ML: I’m just going to show teams that I can do the things that they need me to do. If they need me to come off of the bench and be productive, I can do that. If they need me to get guys going in practice, I can do that. If they need me to run the show and make guys better, I can do that.

CLH: What are you looking to improve on training with Tyrell here in LA?

ML: My decision making and being more smooth. Not going so fast, learning to change speeds, and becoming more of a crafty point guard.

CLH: What’s the biggest asset that you’re going to bring to an NBA team?

ML: I’m a winner. Everywhere I’ve went, I’ve won. High school, Xavier, Arizona, Portsmouth…I win. I feel that I will bring my leadership and winning ways to a team.

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James Ennis NBA Draft Workout and Interview

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

We recently stopped in to check out intriguing 6’7 wing James Ennis from Long Beach State. Training with Tyrell Jamerson, we got to see the intriguing skills and elite athleticism that he possesses. The projected second round pick also sat down for an interview with us, rapping about his track career, the jump from JUCO to D-1, and what he will bring an NBA team.

CityLeagueHoops: James, you’re a guy who could easily be a dual sport threat. Tell me about your track background.

James Ennis: I started doing track when I was in high school. They gave me a chance because I could jump high. In high school, I didn’t jump so high. I only cleared 6’5. Then at VC, I cleared 6’11. I had no form, but if I had form, I would have cleared 7’4.

CLH: You came out of the Cali JUCO system and made a big jump do D-1. What was the transition like to the D-1 game?

JE: Knowing that I came from JC, I had to put in a lot of work to keep up at the D-1 pace. After my JC career, I just kept on working really hard and kept pushing myself to be the best I can be.

CLH: What do you think you improved upon the most over your time in the D-1 ranks at Long Beach State?

JE: Mainly my shooting ability. Once I got to the D-1 level, I had to get my shot off a lot faster because everyone has around the same talent as you.

CLH: You surprised a lot of people at Portsmouth and were one of the few guys to get invited to the Chicago combine. What grade would you give yourself from Portsmouth?

JE: I’d give myself a ‘C’. I did pretty well with the minutes I got. I never played more than 20 minutes, but I had fun and it was a great experience.

CLH: Out here in LA, what are you looking to improve upon the most with Tyrell?

JE: Working out with Tyrell, I’m really trying to get my handle right. I’m getting sharper, keeping the ball low to the ground, and am trying to keep my head up at all times.

CLH: What do you think you’re going to surprise teams with the most during the workout process?

JE: My defense. I can guard multiple positions. My length also allows me to keep little guards in front of me. Also, I’m a high energy guy off of the bench who is willing to do whatever it takes to help my team win.

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Jamal Murray Explodes at Jordan Brand Classic

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

Canada has been a basketball hotbed for the greater part of the last decade. The top high school player in the country is a Canadian and Anthony Bennett could be Canada’s second top-5 pick in the NBA Draft in the last three years. Bennett got his breakthrough on the American circuit when he was named MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic International Game and Jamal Murray looks to follow in his footsteps after donning the same honor this year.

A 6’4 combo guard, Murray has all of the makings of a big time young prospect. He can shoot the ball with deep range, distributes the ball at a high rate, and has no problem assuming the role of a secondary ball-handler. Not an elite athlete, he is able to get past people because of his crafty style of play and high basketball IQ. He dropped 24 points in an impressive fashion, especially considering he would be a part of the 2016 high school class if he were to come to the States.

Running with CIA Bounce on the Nike EYBL circuit, Murray has no shortage of suitors as far as elite American high schools are concerned. Huntington Prep and Findlay Prep are both reportedly vying for his services, and countless colleges will be doing the same once they get a glimpse at him.

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Joel Embiid Takes Crown As 2013′s Top Center

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Rodger Bohn

Joel Embiid came into the United States less than two years ago from the Cameroon and as late as 9 months ago, was unranked by every major scouting service. In ESPN’s final 2013 rankings, he was the #1 center in the class of 2013. The development that he has shown over the last year is unprecedented, and here’s how he got there.

We got our first glimpse of Embiid last spring with the Adidas sponsored Florida Rams, where he was a 7-foot shot-blocking presence with very little offensive game. By the time the summer rolled around, he was running with Florida Elite (which boasted much of the Rams’ core) and was now a capable finisher at the rim, especially when using two hands. The tools of a big time prospect where evident, and his game was slowly coming along. He popped to Kansas just before his senior season at The Rock started, spurning the hometown Gators and striking up quite a buzz amongst casual recruiting fans of who KU’s next man in the middle was going to be.

The next time that we caught up with Embiid was on the all-star game circuit, where he simply dominated. Selected to play in the Jordan Brand Classic and a late addition to the Nike Hoop Summit, he thrived at the opportunity to showcase his game in front of NBA scouts and the nation’s finest high school analysts. Measuring 7‘0 with a 7‘5 wingspan, “JoJo” has prototypical size for an NBA center. In the practices, he made plays that he simply wasn’t capable making a year ago, perhaps even six months ago. Embiid was a purely dominating shot-blocker, swatting shots both on the ball and from helpside. He combined freakish athleticism with outstanding length and timing to create emerge as arguably the best shot-blocker in the class. On the offensive end, his lack of post moves still hinder him when he receives the ball in the post, but he is able to compensate with his elite ability to finish everything in the paint well above the rim with a dunk. There is even a bit of potential in Embiid’s jumper facing the basket based on the stroke that he showed in the practices, though there are times he falls in love with his jumper a bit too much for our liking.

With Jeff Withey off to the NBA, there is a void in the middle for the Jayhawks that Embiid should immediately fill. There may be some growing pains initially, but if JoJo progresses at KU at anywhere near the rate he has over the last year, he is a likely one and done candidate.

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