NBA Draft Combine: Six Standouts Who Significantly Improved Their Draft Stock

Six players were picked up from the G League Camp that took place last weekend, and 78 collegiate, international, and professional (Overtime Elite, G League Ignite) players were invited to the NBA Draft Combine this past week.

37 players choose not to compete in the 5-on-5 competition at the combine, and NBA Draft prospects and their agencies decide which activities they will take part in.

When a player is anticipated to go in the first round, agents frequently use this tactic to their advantage. They may also use it to demand individual workouts if a team wants to take another look at a player who might go late in the first round or be receiving late buzz before the draft.

So that the top players could play and we all had to compete, Brandin Podziemski, a sophomore guard for Santa Clara, said to Yahoo Sports, “I wish they would make everyone play.” “Once we’re all on the court together, there’s nowhere to run.”

If a player puts up the effort and competes throughout the entire week, it can pay off and raise their draft stock. Jalen Williams, a wing out of Santa Clara, made a mark the previous year and played his way into being selected in the lottery one month later.

Every NBA team scout and executive in the Wintrust Arena facility has seen players step up to the plate. With foreign, Power 5 conference, and mid-major players all competing, the sample size is also larger.

Here are the six players who improved themselves the most during the NBA Draft Combine and who may hear their names called on June 22 earlier than anticipated.

Olivier-Maxence Prosper

Marquette, Height/Weight: 6-8, 214 lbs.

Canadian Prosper contributed enough in the first day of scrimmages to call off the second day of games.

The Marquette wing performed well in the testing, displaying a maximum vertical jump of 40.5 inches and shooting 64% in the 3-point star drill. Before the scrimmages had started, many teams had their eyes on him.

Prosper appeared at ease once the ball was tipped and let the game come to him. He effectively demonstrated the impact he can have as a two-way wing by beating players off the perimeter.

His stature, length, and versatility are highly sought after by many teams, particularly those who pick in the 20s. Prosper is suddenly getting first-round buzz because of the assured manner he played, stepping into the jumper in the pick-and-pop and pounding the glass hard on both ends. In 22 minutes, he ended with 21 points on 11 shot attempts and 7 rebounds.

“I just wanted to come out here and play with great energy, go make hustle plays, and really impact the game in multiple ways,”

Prosper said.

Prosper, who averaged 12.5 points and 4.7 rebounds this past season, said following the game.

Ben Sheppard

From Belmont, 6′ 6″ and 190 lbs.

During the second day of scrimmages, Sheppard was among the court’s most impressive guards. In his 20 minutes on the court, he finished first among all players with 25 points (3-for-5 from 3-point range), three assists, and two steals.

Sheppard reduces his turnovers and routinely makes the appropriate offensive reads. He is forceful at the rim and frequently reached the line, drawing contact with his body. He possesses excellent transitional vision and attracted the attention of many scouts by sending a bullet through traffic to Drew Timme.

Sheppard, a senior guard, is a plug-and-play player who can contribute straight away to any NBA second unit. He converted shots at all three levels with finesse and patience. He let it go if his defender went behind a screen.

Sheppard had an 18.8 point, 5.2 rebound, and 41.5% 3-point shooting average for Belmont last season. Sheppard is a guard that clubs should prioritise in the early to mid-second round, even though a first-round pick could be a stretch.

Tristan Vukčević

KK Partizan (Serbia) – Weight/Height: 6-10, 234 lbs.

Vukčević scored 10 points in a row over a short period of time during the first quarter of the first day of scrimmages by making back-to-back 3-pointers and challenging jumpers at the basket.

The centre made a good first impression on scouts who hadn’t seen him in person because he was an international player.

He transitions with a little bit of a second burst when he wants to break out and run, and he moves extremely well for his size and frame.

Although he occasionally played carelessly defensively, venturing out to protect the wing, his presence inside the key is still felt thanks to his 7-3 wingspan. In just 16 minutes of play, Vukčević scored 21 points, including three 3-pointers.

Seth Lundy

From Penn State – 6-4 and weighs 214 pounds.

NBA scouts were aware of Lundy’s proficiency with the three-point shot going into the combine, but what stood out during scrimmage play was the variety of ways he was launching his shots.

It was difficult step-back 3-pointers in the corner with a defender in his face on Day 1. Lundy used screens more to his advantage on the second day. In the first scrimmage, when he went 4-for-5 from 3-point range, he scored 12 points, and in the second, where he went 4-for-6, he scored 18 points.

The advice I received from NBA clubs this entire week was to simply go out there and do what you do and not try to switch anything up, Lundy told media.

“I went out there with a shooter’s attitude because I know I’m a shooter. It will go up if I catch someone with their hands lowered. I hoped that by briefly showcasing my skills, scouts would be impressed”.

Seth Lundy said.

Prior to the combine, Lundy worked out with the Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks in addition to meeting with the Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New York Knicks this week.

During his final year, the Penn State guard averaged 14.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 40% 3-point shooting.

Amari Bailey

From UCLA – Height/Weight: 6-5, 190 lbs.

Late in the season, Bailey began to find his footing, and during the NCAA tournament, he really developed into an offensive menace for UCLA. NBA analysts expected the rookie guard to improve his 3-point shooting when he went to the combine.

He was one among the players who shot the most effectively off the dribble on Monday during shooting exercises, connecting on 24-of-30 attempts (80%).

As soon as the practise games began, Bailey shifted to a more point guard-like position and performed admirably, throwing out 8 assists in the first game and 6 in the second. Additionally, he scored 36 points overall in the two games.

“I just wanted to show NBA scouts my playmaking ability and just improvement to my overall game,” Bailey said to Yahoo Sports, adding, “I genuinely enjoy opening people up and getting to exhibit that in pick-and-roll situations”.

Amari Bailey

In the second scrimmage, Bailey made just one of his four 3-point tries, but he is going into his shot with assurance.

“I’m not out here to push anything.” There are four other players on the court, so if I’m open, I’ll take the shot. However, it really comes down to choosing the best move for each possession and passing the ball to the appropriate player. I’ll look for someone else if they’re attractive”.

Amari Bailey continued.

Following the combine, Bailey will work out for the Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Philadelphia 76ers. During his first year at UCLA, Bailey averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.

Brandin Podziemski

Santa Clara Resident – 6′ 5” and 205 pounds

Williams, who was a significant combine riser last year, was a teammate of Podziemski’s at Santa Clara. This past week, Podziemski entered the pre-draft process believing he might replicate Williams’ success.

On Day 1 of the scrimmages, Podziemski was one of the toughest guards and performed a variety of things on offence while dishing out 8 assists and tallying 10 points. Williams provided him with counsel before to moving to Chicago.

Podziemski remarked, “Any queries, worries, or nervousness I’ve had, I’ve just turned to him, and he’s been amazing about it. His main advice to me was to show executives, scouts, and general managers (GMs) anything outside shoot and score as they already know that.

More than that is being watched. How well-rounded you are as a teammate, how you sit on the bench, and how you appear when you enter the game. Leaning on him has been fantastic because it was very helpful to know that going in and to learn it as you go.

Podziemski might be selected anywhere from the late first to the early second round. Podziemski claimed to have met with 20 clubs this week, however he wouldn’t name any particular teams.

He remarked, “I’m just going around and hearing what teams have to say, and so far, it’s all been positive feedback.”

Brandin Podziemski remarked.

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