June is always one of my favorite months of the year because of the NBA Finals and the NBA Draft. The buzz surrounding the pre-draft combine and individual team workouts is always intense. I have been extremely fortunate to have helped numerous players prepare for the draft the last several years; highlighted by back-to-back No. 2 overall picks Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley.
This year I had the pleasure of working with a fantastic group of talented players: Stephen Curry (Davidson), Tywon Lawson (UNC), Greivis Vasquez (Maryland), Josh Heytvelt (Gonzaga), Jack McClinton (Miami), Wes Matthews (Marquette) and Ater Majok (Connecticut).
While I certainly worked with some guys more than others, I got to spend quality time with each of them and really enjoyed getting to know them. I was honored for the opportunity to help them achieve their dreams. I wish them all the absolute best and will be glued to the TV on draft night from my hotel in Orlando (my schedule allowed me to attend the draft in 2007; but this year I will be working the Vince Carter Skills Academy).
I also want to mention I have known and been working with Greivis since he was in 11th grade at Montrose Christian. I met him the first day he arrived in the United States. I always knew there was something very special about him. He may get a bad rap from some folks because of his flamboyancy and flare; but G is without question one of the most dedicated, sincere, and amazing young men I have ever worked with.
And he is hands-down the most competitive. And for anyone who saw him record a triple double and beat No. 1-ranked UNC this year, he obviously has the potential to be a big-time player. I also want to note Greivis has been extremely mature and professional about the entire NBA draft process and is weighing all of his options with an open mind. He has not signed with an agent and is leaving open the possibility of returning to Maryland (same goes for Ater Majok). He has until June 15th to decide.
The reason I am able to work with these guys is because the D.C area is home to many of the NBA’s top agents, many of which I have established a solid professional relationship (and friendship) with over the past several years. These agents usually give their clients the option of moving to D.C. for anywhere from two to six weeks to train.
When they do move here, all they do is eat, sleep, and train! It is a strength coach’s dream! They work with me several times a week and work with a skills coach on individual player development every day: honing their ball handling, shooting, and an arsenal of offensive moves and skills. While we (the skills coaches and I) don’t have the notoriety of some of the other more established pre-draft training programs and facilities; we get the job done and our players are always very well prepared.
Prepared for what you ask? We prepare them for one of the most grueling months of their lives. Some players work out for as many as 15 teams prior to the draft!
And the workouts can be brutal. They are usually an hour and half to two hours long and are extremely intense. Most of the time guys are going against several other players within their draft range; so the competition is fierce. Intense workouts, demanding interviews, and constant travel can really wear them down. But that’s that nature of the NBA so they need to get used to it.
It is also my job to prepare them for the NBA combine; which just took place last weekend in Chicago. I understand why they do the combine, and the NBA strength coaches who implement the testing do an extraordinary job and collect very accurate data, but in my opinion the combine is a totally overrated part of the draft process and the numbers themselves do very little in predicting success on the court.
I’ll let you know why tomorrow in Part II of this blog.
