Tag: EJ Montgomery

Everything to know about NBA G League pre-draft evaluation process

Rookie Wire obtained every detail possible about the NBA G League pre-draft evaluation process, including all of the known invitations sent.

Rookie Wire obtained every detail possible about the NBA G League pre-draft evaluation process, including all of the known invitations sent.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many draft-eligible prospects not invited to the NBA combine have had trouble getting all of their information to team-decision makers in advance of the 2020 NBA Draft. To combat this, the NBA G League is offering a greater opportunity to be evaluated by team decision-makers.

This information included below was shared with USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire on the condition of anonymity because the person who shared the details was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

While the G League Elite Camp was canceled this year, a “select number” of participants were given the chance to share virtual evaluations through both shooting drills and an NBA pro day.

Prospects who agreed to participate will use HomeCourt, a mobile basketball training application, to record on-court workouts. The results will be shared with NBA team staffers through the app.

Players were encouraged to have two staffers with them in the gym to assist with the process. The coaches and trainers were required to wear a face mask and gloves during the workout.

NBA Evaluation: 8 Shooting Drills (based on previous editions of the Draft Combine)

  • Warm-Up/free-throws (50 shots)
  • Spot-Up shooting (50 shots)
  • Shooting off dribble/pull-up jumpers (30 shots)
  • Mid-Range/off the catch (20 shots)
  • 3-point drill /3-pointers off the catch (20 shots)
  • Side-mid-side/3-point jumpers on the move (2 minutes)
  • 3-point endurance/catch-and-shoot at game speed (5 minutes)
  • Cool down/free-throws (50 shots)

Each shooting drill can be completed a max of three times. Only the best score is uploaded into the NBA Player Evaluation platform for all NBA teams to access the data and video.

This is how the results look, as obtained by Babcock Hoops’ Derek Murray:

NBA Pro Day: 45-Minute Open Workout

  • This workout allows the draft prospect to share the unique
    aspects of his game through a 45-minute open workout.
  • Players are prohibited from partaking in live competition against any other draft-eligible and/or other players, including: informal scrimmages, pick-up games (e.g., 2-on-2), defensive drills (e.g., pick-and-roll coverage, post defense, etc.), offensive drills (e.g., Pick-and-Roll / Pop situations)
  • Pro Day must be a half-court workout.
  • Pro Day is an open workout for up to 45 minutes. If a player does NOT use the full 45 minutes, that is OK.
  • Must be completed on the same date as shooting drills. The player is allowed a 10-minute break in between.

KNOWN INVITATIONS

USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire was able to obtain a list of prospects invited to participate in this process. Note that others may have been included as well, though these were the names we can confirm at this time. 

Tres Tinkle, Oregon State

Malik Fitts, Saint Mary’s

Trevelin Queen, New Mexico State

Freddie Gillespie, Baylor

Jordan Ford, Saint Mary’s

Rayshaun Hammonds, Georgia

Jon Teske, Michigan

Emmitt Williams, LSU

Anthony Lamb, Vermont

Austin Wiley, Auburn

Isiaha Mike, SMU

Nate Darling, Delaware

Kamar Baldwin, Butler

Caleb Homesley, Liberty

Anthony Cowan, Maryland

Dwayne Sutton, Louisville

Steven Enoch, Louisville

Osasumwen Osaghae, Florida International

Kylor Kelley, Oregon State

John Mooney, Notre Dame

Xavier Sneed, Kansas State

EJ Montgomery, Kentucky

Quinton Rose, Temple

Jordan Bowden, Tennessee

Jake Toolson, BYU

Samir Doughty, Auburn

Terry Armstrong, South East Melbourne

Eli Pemberton, Hofstra

Kouat Noi, Cairns

Sacar Anim, Marquette

Jeff Dowtin, Rhode Island

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Calipari has five players from last …

Calipari has five players from last year’s Kentucky squad — Ashton Hagans, Immanuel Quickley, Nick Richards, EJ Montgomery and Ashton Hagans — who have declared for next month’s draft. Although Calipari’s players have fared well in the draft, this one will be much different because of the COVD-19 pandemic.

Calipari said his “biggest worry” is …

Calipari said his “biggest worry” is working out for players working out for teams before the draft and isn’t sure how that will work out in moving forward. “If they spend two months and don’t do anything, and they try to go work out for an NBA team, it ain’t going to work for them,” he said. “So, there are no gyms, there are no health clubs, unless they have a gym in their house. None of them do. Unless they have a health area, a workout area within their home. None of them do. How is this? How are we doing this? So, my worry is more about that. We’re getting information to the kids.”

After that, opinions were more varied, …

After that, opinions were more varied, according to Stadium’s Jeff Goodman, who quoted anonymous NBA executives on the other four Wildcats. By far the most negative opinion came on EJ Montgomery, who surprised many by announcing that he wouldn’t just test the waters, but would keep his name in for the NBA Draft after averaging just 6.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. “We don’t even have him in our Top 100,” an NBA executive said. “I have no clue what he’s thinking.”

Tracking the NBA draft stock of the top Kentucky Wildcats’ prospects

With the college basketball season officially over, USA TODAY SMG’s Rookie Wire is looking at draft stock for players on top NCAA teams.

With the college basketball season officially over, USA TODAY SMG’s Rookie Wire is looking at draft stock for players on top NCAA teams.

As of July 2019, there were thirty players who played college basketball at Kentucky playing in the NBA. That was the largest representation from one college in league history, per HoopsHype. That number will increase with a new draft class from the Wildcats set to hear their names called this summer.

John Calipari recently said that five players on Kentucky have entered their names into the 2020 NBA Draft (via 247 Sports)

“What we did before they left, I had individual meetings with each player and I had the staff in there. I wanted everybody to hear it together individually with players but with my staff. We just did a Zoom call yesterday with my entire team to try to keep touching base with them, but the reality of it was five of them have put their name in the draft.”

Based on their current draft stock, one would assume those players are: Tyrese Maxey, Ashton Hagans, Nick Richards, Immanuel Quickley and EJ Montgomery.

However, two others who played at Kentucky (Kahlil Whitney and Keion Brooks) registered on the NBA Draft radar points this season. As such, we research their draft stock for this study as well.

Two quick notes: evaluations will be based on the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee (UAC) scale of whether a player is a lottery pick, first-rounder, early second-rounder, late second-rounder or undrafted.

These numbers were determined by monitoring mock drafts and big boards published throughout the season, starting from immediately after the 2019 NBA Draft and updated in real-time.

Mock drafts and big boards are included not only from mainstream analysts and experts but also current and former agents, front office executives as well as various trusted sources around the league.

The composite results for Kentucky are included below but click the name of each player for a closer look at each prospect.

Tyrese Maxey | Ashton Hagans | Nick Richards | Immanuel Quickley | Kahlil Whitney | EJ Montgomery | Keion Brooks

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