Auburn sophomore point guard Jamison Brewer has shown his strong potential this week, dribbling circles around most of his opponents. When it comes to discussing his future, he can talk in circles too.
Brewer had a just above-average sophomore year as he settled into the starting point guard role for the Tigers. He averaged 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds a night while in spurts showing his long-term ability. He wound up putting his name in for the NBA Draft because of the lack of point guards available and figured someone might want to take a flier on him.
And maybe they will. But probably not until the second round, which means no guaranteed contract and the better than average chance he won't even make a roster. Brewer is aware of all of this.
He also is aware that another year of seasoning at college, especially on a strong Auburn team, would push him into the first round next June and maybe the lottery in two years. He doesn't really care, though.
"I would like to stay in the draft," said Brewer, who has not signed with an agent and could return to Auburn. "I'm willing to be a second-round pick if some team really likes me and is looking for me to be on the team. Although sometimes, the kind of team we'd be at Auburn gets in my mind too."
This is the mystery of the modern draft. The creation of the rookie salary cap almost completely eliminated a reason for players to try to get better and enter the league when they are ready. It instead rewards inexperience and does not place a value on proven ability or moving up in the draft. The difference from being the No. 1 pick and the No. 19 is no longer a big deal. So why shoot for No. 1?
The next wave of problems lies with players like Brewer, Arizona's unready Jason Gardner, DePaul's Bobby Simmons and many others. These are players who, if forced to improve before the NBA, would have lengthy careers. But under the current system, they are encouraged to come out long before they are developed and risk what could be promising futures.
"I just feel I can play at that level," said Brewer, who could if he was patient. "And if I get better and better I think I can play in the NBA."
He said he'll make his decision based on info he gets from the NBA on his draft status, but it appears he'll remain in the draft -- even with no guarantees and a great opportunity for him back at Auburn. He's smart enough to know there is a risk, but might not be willing to listen to reason and maximize his future.
Open gym
Over 150 scouts, coaches and front office personnel lined the walls of a court at Chicago's Hoops gymnasium Thursday afternoon to watch an open gym workout of SFX clients (or soon to be clients) Gerald Wallace of Alabama, Jason Collins of Stanford, Vladimir Radmonovic of Yugoslavia and Tony Jones of Chicago State.
The four players ran through a series of shooting and dribbling drills before playing some controlled two-on-two.
The goal was to answer questions about Wallace's shooting ability and Collins' athleticism. It also provided scouts a good look at Radmonovic, a surprisingly agile 6-foot-10 big man. Jones showed the kind of potential that might make him a fit for the new developmental league.
Wallace, who has signed with SFX (Arn Tellem), hopes the workout will solidify him as a first-round pick. He left Alabama after a single season where his world-class athleticism was prominently displayed but his offensive numbers -- 9.8 points, 6.0 rebounds -- were hardly overwhelming.
"I don't think its fair to look at those numbers though," said Wallace, a 6-7 swingman. "Because you have to look at the position I was playing, power forward, was not my natural position. I came out of high school with the ball always in my hand. In college the ball was taken totally away from me."
Wallace praised Tide coach Mark Gottfried and said he understood his team needed him to play the four, but that doesn't mean he thinks he showed his true ability last winter in Tuscaloosa.
"It's just very unfair for folks to say that," he said. "Alabama was a great experience, the coaches were great, the players were great. I understand that I helped the team playing power forward and that's what I am all about, going out and winning."
Wallace showed off his leaping ability with some impressive dunks but did not display the soft touch that scouts want. Of course, in this controlled and staged practice, it wasn't like he was attempting any shots he might miss badly.
Collins was similar. He played well, but how much he helped his draft status is unclear. Collins, who averaged 14.5 points and 7.8 rebounds a game for the Cardinal, said getting into the flow of the work out was a challenge since so many famous NBA faces were watching so closely.
"It's just like high school, when Coach (Mike) Krzyzewski, Coach (Mike) Montgomery and a who's who of the college basketball world would watch you play," said Collins, whose brother Jarron is taking part in the NBA's predraft camp at Moody Bible Institute. "Now it's a who's who of the NBA who are watching. You just have to go out and play your game. I've been playing ever since I was six years old and this is the sport I hope to make my profession in."
Bogans better
Kentucky sophomore Keith Bogans, who is still on the fence about whether to leave his name in the draft r return for his junior season, was better on Thursday, but still not dominant. Bogans admitted he struggled Wednesday in game action, but said he settled down Thursday and let the action come to him.
"(Wednesday) I walked off the court frustrated, I wasn't myself," he said. "I just got off to a slow start."
Thursday he shot just 3-of-7 from the field and grabbed only 2 rebounds but did play better defense and got up and down the court better. He still has done little to cement himself as a first round pick.
Celtics option
Boston has until next Tuesday to exercise an option that would give it Denver's first-round pick, the 11th overall. The Celtics are expected to take the pick, giving them three in the first round (Nos. 10, 11 and 21).
The option to package two of the picks to move up in the draft -- the Bulls are taking offers for the fourth overall pick -- is there, but the team isn't sure that you get a better player this year at four than you do at 10 or 11. That's the way it is in a draft overrun with youth long on potential, light on proof.
Scruggs comes on
Georgetown big man Lee Scruggs showed all facets of his game Thursday -- decent inside moves, great agility and speed in the open court and noteworthy shooting ability from deep. He scored 13 points on 6-of-13 shooting, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 3 assists.
"I'm pretty happy with the way I played today," said the 6-11 Hoya. "I was a little nervous yesterday playing in front of everybody, I didn't play like myself. You are just not used to everybody watching, every mistake becomes big and you think you have to be perfect out there. And then you press.
"Last night in the hotel I had a conversation with myself and said, 'This is what you want to do for a living so you've got to go out there and play.'"
Scruggs needs work on his weight (215 pounds) and strength, but he possesses the kind of height and agility that the league covets.
"My thing is just to come out and do the things I can do and not do the things I can't do," said Scruggs. "I just need to play."
News and notes
- Clemson junior guard Will Solomon has played very well through two days and gave a strong performance during Thursday's drill sessions. In shooting and one-on-one drills he was clearly the best player in a group that included Gardner, Bogans, Simmons and junior college player Jamario Moon.
- Gardner has been outclassed here, but continues to imply that he is likely to keep his name in the draft. This despite 3-for-19 shooting so far and constant abuse on the defensive end of the court. Gardner did hit one of his 7 3-point attempts Thursday but also had two ugly air balls.
- Arizona teammate Gilbert Arenas said he is trying to show scouts that even though he is just 6-3, his long wingspan (6-9½) allows him to guard taller players. "They look at you on TV, they hear, '6-3 shooting guard' but in person they see my long arms and realize I can cover bigger players. That's why I've been trying to stick big guys out there. My arms make up for my height."
- New Jersey Nets guard Stephon Marbury attended the camp Thursday to support his younger brother, Zach. The elder Marbury sat courtside, shooting advice and living and dying with each of Zach's passes and shots. For the day, Zach played pretty well, scoring 13 on 4-of-6 shooting. The Rhode Island sophomore still isn't exciting many NBA scouts, but it was his best effort of the week.
- George Washington's SirValiant Brown says that while he hasn't signed with an agent, he isn't going back to college. The combination of a coaching change (Tom Penders out, Karl Hobbs in) and the fact he believes he is ready is enough to remain in the draft. "I'm showing that I have point guard skills, I'm a solid one who can fill the bucket," said Brown.
- Citing nerves, many players said they did not play up to par on day one and the overall camp shooting numbers prove it. After a dismal first day of games that saw the field goal percentage stand at 39.1 percent and the three-point average hit an abysmal 16.2, things improved Thursday. The camp shot 45.1 percent from the floor and 29.8 from behind the arc. Not great, but better.
