Are there any impact players that you …

Are there any impact players that you see in the league today that reminds you of yourself? Lester Quinones: LQ: Guys like Mikal Bridges, him going into the league and being a good 3-and-D player. Klay [Thompson] has been a favorite player of mine for years now. With him being a 3-and-D player… just watching guys like that really just helps with studying film and really just perfect my craft, and get my game to the next level. Guys like Bridges and Klay are guys I look at.

Lakers to host Memphis’ Lester Quinones, others for pre-draft workout

Memphis junior Lester Quinones will be among the prospects to participate in a pre-draft workout with the Lakers on Tuesday.

Memphis junior Lester Quinones will be among the prospects to participate in a pre-draft workout with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, the team announced.

Quinones averaged 10 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 steals on 39% shooting from 3-point range last season with the Tigers. He ranked seventh among qualified players in the American Athletic Conference in 3-point percentage and 13th in 3-pointers made (55).

The 6-foot-5 guard has emerged as one of the top shooters in the draft this year. He has worked out with several other teams in the pre-draft process, including the Oklahoma City Thunder and Sacramento Kings, and will visit the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

[mm-video type=video id=01g40p9wm4qpp6ka6t5r playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g40p9wm4qpp6ka6t5r/01g40p9wm4qpp6ka6t5r-bf39b2c7b4b78a331ba733359f63f362.jpg]

In addition to Quinones, the Lakers will also host San Jose State guard Omari Moore, Purdue forward Trevion Williams, Nebraska guard Trey McGowens, Oregon guard Will Richardson and Texas Southern forward Brison Gresham on Tuesday.

The Lakers enter the pre-draft process with no picks in either round. The team dealt its first-round pick to the New Orleans Pelicans in the trade involving Anthony Davis. Its second-round selection was sent to the Washington Wizards in a cap-clearing move.

Despite having no draft picks, the Lakers will still do their due diligence on those fringe prospects that could go undrafted. The team could acquire picks to take a prospect or sign him outright in free agency after the draft.

The NBA draft will take place on June 23.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Oklahoma City Thunder worked out Memphis guard Lester Quinones in pre-draft visit

The Oklahoma City Thunder worked out Memphis guard Lester Quinones on Thursday, per @Stockrisers

The Oklahoma City Thunder hosted their first pre-draft workouts on Thursday with multiple players that now include Memphis’ Lester Quinones, per Stockrisers’ Jake Weingarten.

The Thunder will host pre-draft workouts from Thursday until the 2022 NBA Draft, which will be held on June 23. The Thunder will own four top-34 draft picks that include two lottery picks and three first-round picks overall.

Quinones, who is 21 years old, averaged 10 points and 3.5 rebounds in 33 games with Memphis last season. Quinones spent three college seasons with Memphis before declaring for the 2022 NBA Draft. In three total college seasons, Quinones has career averages of 10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 87 career games.

Tracking top NCAA prospects who could still declare for 2020 NBA Draft

NCAA prospects have until April 26 to declare early entry for 2020 NBA Draft. There are several notable prospects who could join this class.

NCAA prospects have until next week to declare early entry for 2020 NBA Draft. There are several notable prospects who could join this class.

Two freshmen (Precious Achiuwa and Jahmi’us Ramsey) are widely projected as first-round prospects. Meanwhile, three sophomores (Isaiah Joe, Aaron Henry and Joel Ayayi) typically appear on mock drafts.

Others who are likely Top-100 prospects: Romeo Weems, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Filip Petrusev, Joe Wieskamp, Corey Kispert, Terrence Shannon Omer Yurtseven, Yves Pons, AJ Lawson, Charles Bassey, Anton Watson and Miles McBride.

Below is a list reviewing all of the key players in college basketball who have yet to make a public decision about their NBA futures, even if it is simply just to test the waters so long as they already applied to receive feedback from the Undergraduate Advisory Committee before April 16.

FRESHMEN

Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Precious Achiuwa, Memphis (Big)

Jahmi’us Ramsey, Texas Tech (Guard)

Romeo Weems, DePaul (Forward)

Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (Big)

Terrence Shannon, Texas Tech (Wing)

Anton Watson, Gonzaga (Forward)

N’Faly Dante, Oregon (Big)

DJ Jeffries, Memphis (Forward)

Lester Quinones, Memphis (Forward)

Spencer Jones, Stanford (Big)

Nah’shon Hyland, VCU (Guard)

James Bouknight, UCONN (Guard)

SOPHOMORES

Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

Isaiah Joe, Arkansas (Guard)

Aaron Henry, Michigan (Wing)

Joel Ayayi, Gonzaga (Guard)

Filip Petrusev, Gonzaga (Big)

Joe Wieskamp, Iowa (Wing)

AJ Lawson, South Carolina (Guard)

Charles Bassey, Western Kentucky (Big)

Emmitt Williams, LSU (Forward)

Isaac Likekele, Oklahoma State (Guard)

Marcus Zegarowski, Creighton (Guard)

Will Richardson, Oregon (Guard)

Kessler Edwards, Pepperdine (Forward)

Quentin Grimes, Houston (Guard)

Aaron Wiggins, Maryland (Guard)

Xavier Johnson, Pittsburgh (Guard)

Davion Mitchell, Baylor (Guard)

Marcus Bingham, Michigan State (Big)

JUNIORS

James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Corey Kispert, Gonzaga (Wing)

Omer Yurtseven, Georgetown (Big)

Yves Pons, Tennessee (Wing)

Colbey Ross, Pepperdine (Guard)

Oscar da Silva, Stanford (Forward)

Nahziah Carter, Washington Wing)

Dru Smith, Missouri (Guard)

Matt Mitchell, San Diego State (Forward)

Mark Vital, Baylor (Forward)

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Memphis at Tennessee odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Memphis Tigers at Tennessee Volunteers sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Memphis Tigers (8-1, 0-0 AAC) travel to meet the Tennessee Volunteers (7-1, 0-0 SEC) in Knoxville Saturday at 3 p.m. ET. We analyze the Memphis-Tennessee odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Memphis at Tennessee: Three things you need to know

1. The Volunteers have posted a 3-7 against the spread mark across their past 10 games at home, while the underdog is 9-3 ATS in the past 12 meetings in this Volunteer State rivalry.

2. The Tigers are still without C James Wiseman for another month, as he remains suspended by the NCAA. To make matters worse, freshman G Lester Quinones (hand) is considered questionable due to a hand injury.

3. Tennessee won 102-92 in the most recent meeting Dec. 15, 2018.


Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!


Memphis at Tennessee: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Tennessee 76, Memphis 72

Moneyline (ML)

There was no moneyline posted at the time of publishing. TENNESSEE would be the pick.

Against the Spread (ATS)

MEMPHIS (+6.5, -115) is a good play catching more than three buckets. This is a rivalry game, and even though Wiseman isn’t part of the festivities, Quinones might be back after a three-game absence. Either way, the Tigers should be able to at least keep it close.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Memphis to cover the spread would profit $8.70 if it does so.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 139.5 (-105) is worth a small-unit play. While the Under is 4-1 in Tennessee’s past five overall, the Over is 7-3-1 in its past 11 at home. The Under has also dominated for Memphis, but the Over is 4-1 in its past five against winning teams.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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A Memphis player is blowing up Twitter by wearing short shorts

Meet Lester Quinones and his short shorts.

Who wears short shorts?

Lester Quinones wears short shorts.

The Memphis freshman shooting guard is turning heads with a sartorial choice that’s a throwback to a long-ago era of basketball, and it’s delighting and baffling everyone on Twitter.

It’s not just that the shorts are short. He actually tucks them into compression wear under his uniform. And his explanation is simple.

“It’s just, it’s different. It’s just me,” he told the Memphis Commercial Appeal recently. “It’s just kind of my thing.”

It’s perfect, it’s a great quote, don’t ever change, Lester. We need more short shorts in basketball. Here’s a full look:

(AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht)

Here’s a sampling of the reaction:

[jwplayer tP7WFzRm-q2aasYxh]