Trevor invited to Portsmouth, Rodney was not

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Zgoda: Mbakwe tries to catch someone's eye at NBA draft combine

“It has definitely been an interesting journey,” he said after working out in front of NBA coaches, general managers and scouts in a gym not too far from Chicago’s United Center. “I couldn’t have planned the way it has gone if I wanted to. I’ve been through a lot, but I feel like I’m prepared at this point now.

“I definitely didn’t have the ideal route to get here as many people would have wanted. But I’m just fortunate and lucky to be here, and I’m going to make the best of the opportunity.”

“I don’t think it’s as big an issue as people make it,” he said. “So many guys who have had success at the next level aren’t your typical 6-9, 6-10 big guys, but they do things exceptionally well. Faried is one of those guys, but I love the way he plays: He plays with so much energy. He’s athletic. He’s one of the players I model myself around. He’s the same size, same build as me and I think I can do a lot of the same things he does.

“They say one thing that translates from college to pros is the ability to rebound, and I feel like that’s something I do pretty well.”

“Play with energy, rebound the ball pretty well, pretty good defender, block shots,” he said, delivering a scouting report on himself. “I’m not one of those guys who has to have the ball in his hands to have an impact on the game. I pride myself on my ability to rebound the ball and defend. I think that’s one of the reasons I’m here today. I’m just thankful I finally have a chance to live my dream.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/207817081.html

Go Gophers!!
 

BleedGopher said:
Zgoda: Mbakwe tries to catch someone's eye at NBA draft combine
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A much better write-up would have included scouts reaction to his workouts.

I'm still puzzled, if Rodney is projected to be a mid to late 2nd round draft pick on almost every site how was he not one of the 63 invited?
 





I think draftexpress.com does a good job of talking to agents, scouts, organizations, etc.
 

HOOP DREAMS said:
A much better write-up would have included scouts reaction to his workouts.

I'm still puzzled, if Rodney is projected to be a mid to late 2nd round draft pick on almost every site how was he not one of the 63 invited?
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Because just like the NFL stuff just because the guys at ESPN or the bloggers (that do I think the best job they can being outsiders and all) think a guy is a top 63 prospect doesn't mean NBA scouts and GMs agree.
 

Sid Hartman: Saunders reports Mbakwe stood out

“I thought he played really well,” Saunders said. “He measured out; measurement-wise, he’s probably the most impressive player. When I say that, when you look at body fat, you look at his wingspan — he had about a plus-8, which means his wingspan is 8 inches more than his height, which is something a lot of people look at.

“The other thing is his hands. He had the biggest hands of anybody in the camp, when you look at both the length, from the heel of the hand to the top, and the width from the thumb to the pinkie finger. I thought he played really well in the camp. I thought he shot the ball well, showed he can knock down the 15-footers like he did against Indiana. So I thought he was pretty impressive.”

“With him, a lot is going to depend on [workouts] and how his physical ends up coming out on his knees. For some people, that’s a huge red flag and can take a player that’s a first-round pick and put them in the second round or take a second-round pick and make them undraftable. Depending on where his knees come out in the physicals will really determine where he comes out in the draft.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/208084191.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue

Go Gophers!!
 





J.B. Bauer ‏@JBBauer612 6h
Rodney Williams, Trevor Mbakwe & Vander Blue among those expected to participate in this wk's NBA combine hosted by the Nets. #Gophers #mubb
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All NBA teams will be there. Trevor tomorrow, Rodney Thursday.
 

Johnnyboy18 said:
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/fullnbamockdraft-JeffGoodman


This one has Rodney getting drafted before Trevor. That would shock me.
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that would be an interesting 2nd round run for us MN guys. 5 straight picks with MN ties:

49. CHICAGO BULLS
Colton Iverson, C, Colorado State: The Bulls love hard-playing big men -- and Iverson certainly fits that mold. (Previous: --)
50. ATLANTA HAWKS
Rodney Williams Jr., SF, Minnesota: Terrific athlete who never quite realized his potential, but is worth the risk this late in the draft. (Previous: 48)
51. ORLANDO MAGIC
Nate Wolters, PG, South Dakota State: Won't blow you away with his athleticism, but knows how to play the game. Will be a solid backup floor leader. (Previous: 49)
52. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Solomon Hill, SF, Arizona: Big-time athlete who could become a defensive stopper. Has really improved his perimeter shot. (Previous: 56)
53. INDIANA PACERS
Trevor Mbakwe, PF, Minnesota: Isn't quite the same after the torn ACL, but still gets after it and can rebound at a high level. (Previous: --)
 



@Flip_Saunders: Mbakwe most impressive player in Brooklyn Pre Draft combine this morning. Dellavedova also good.

Go Gophers!!
 

@draftexpress: Trevor Mbakwe doing a great job scrapping inside the paint. Has come away with countless offensive rebounds pushing around poor Norvel Pelle

Go Gophers!!
 

BleedGopher said:
@Flip_Saunders: Mbakwe most impressive player in Brooklyn Pre Draft combine this morning. Dellavedova also good.

Go Gophers!!
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Why is Flip tweeting stuff like this? Seems idiotic, if he actually believes it. As far as, from the standpoint of, he is the GM of an NBA team. Seems Tice-like.
 

 

Excuse my ignorance... out of curiosity, what's the Hill connection?

oleboy41 said:
that would be an interesting 2nd round run for us MN guys. 5 straight picks with MN ties:

49. CHICAGO BULLS
Colton Iverson, C, Colorado State: The Bulls love hard-playing big men -- and Iverson certainly fits that mold. (Previous: --)
50. ATLANTA HAWKS
Rodney Williams Jr., SF, Minnesota: Terrific athlete who never quite realized his potential, but is worth the risk this late in the draft. (Previous: 48)
51. ORLANDO MAGIC
Nate Wolters, PG, South Dakota State: Won't blow you away with his athleticism, but knows how to play the game. Will be a solid backup floor leader. (Previous: 49)
52. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Solomon Hill, SF, Arizona: Big-time athlete who could become a defensive stopper. Has really improved his perimeter shot. (Previous: 56)
53. INDIANA PACERS
Trevor Mbakwe, PF, Minnesota: Isn't quite the same after the torn ACL, but still gets after it and can rebound at a high level. (Previous: --)
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Haha, I'm an idiot. I didn't even pay attention to the NBA teams there. I just noticed that the 4 others players played either college or high school ball here. I thought he was implying that Hill had a MN connection outside of the Wolves possibly drafting him.

GopherJake said:
The team drafting him?
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GopherJake said:
Why is Flip tweeting stuff like this? Seems idiotic, if he actually believes it. As far as, from the standpoint of, he is the GM of an NBA team. Seems Tice-like.
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That was my thought as well. Did he forget he's running the draft for a team now, not just making sporadic media appearances?
 

@draftexpress: Rodney Williams measured a 36 inch no-step and 42.5 inch max-vertical leap, which would have ranked first and second best at the NBA Combine

Go Gophers!!
 

@DarrenWolfson: Scout on Rodney Williams today: "Athlete. Played hard. Didn't try to take over. Played team ball. Solid to ok." #gophers

Go Gophers!!
 

Would be very exciting to see both Rodney and Trevor get drafted.

Didn't see the tweet posted, but Rodney was the fastest in the defensive slide drill, measured 6'5 1/2" (not sure if with or without shoes) with a 6'11" wingspan.
 

GopherJake said:
Why is Flip tweeting stuff like this? Seems idiotic, if he actually believes it. As far as, from the standpoint of, he is the GM of an NBA team. Seems Tice-like.
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Maybe he has no intentions to draft Mbakwe but wants to help out his fellow University of Minnesota alumni.
 




Niiice. Still not convinced he'll get drafted, but might be worth a shot at the very end considering very few of those players make it anyway. I still can't get over Zeller's no-step leap.

BleedGopher said:
@draftexpress: Rodney Williams measured a 36 inch no-step and 42.5 inch max-vertical leap, which would have ranked first and second best at the NBA Combine

Go Gophers!!
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