The Kings on Tuesday held their second multi-player 2012 pre-Draft workout at the team’s practice facility. The session featured UNC forward Tyler Zeller, Alabama forward JaMychal Green and more.
The Sacramento Kings hosted their second pre-Draft workout of the offseason on Tuesday at the team’s practice facility. The six prospects participated in shooting drills as well as one-on-one and three-on-three sessions.
The group included:
- William Buford, G, Sr., Ohio State – The Second Team All-Big Ten selection averaged 14.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in helping the Buckeyes to their 11th Final Four.
- JaMychal Green, F, Sr., Alabama – The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 14.0 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Crimson Tide while being named to the All-SEC Second Team.
- Lazeric Jones, G, Sr., UCLA – The Second Team All-Pac-12 performer led the Bruins in scoring with 13.1 points per game while also averaging 4.1 assists.
- Wendell McKines, F, Sr., New Mexico State – The Oakland native led the WAC in scoring (18.7 ppg) and boasted a PER of 25.4.
- Charlie Westbrook, G, Sr., South Dakota – The 6-foot-4 guard led the Coyotes in scoring (18.7 ppg) while being named to the All-Summit League 2nd Team.
- Tyler Zeller, C, Sr., North Carolina – The ACC Player of the Year and Second Team All-American averaged 16.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for a Tar Heel squad that reached the Elite Eight.
Following the workout, Kings.com caught up with Zeller and Green to get insight into Tuesday’s go-round.
Tyler Zeller
What did Kings Coach Keith Smart share with you when the two of you met after the group workout session?
“(We discussed) just a lot of little things you don’t ever think about in college. We ran the pick-and-roll, but we didn’t run a lot of them. Obviously, about three quarters of possessions are pick-and-rolls in the NBA. So we just talked through a lot of different footwork, a lot of different ways to play the pick-and-roll and (how) offensively (to) play the pick-and-roll.”
Have you had one-on-one sessions with coaches at other pre-Draft workout sessions?
“A little bit. If you ask them questions they’ll work with you, so a lot of it is just going to ask questions. Coach Smart is a very smart guy, and he’s somebody that’s great to work with. He has a lot of good things (to share).”
What kind of feedback did you receive from today’s workout?
“Pretty good – it’s very hard to tell in one-on-one and three-on-three situations. It’s tough to get a great read of how you play, but I shot the ball fairly well, and hopefully, I’ll continue to progress and get better.”
How would you rate your play on the perimeter?
“I think it’s something I’m definitely working on. I never showed it a lot in college but I’ve always kind of had it. So I’m working on getting better at it. Obviously, the NBA is a different animal when you’re dealing with it, so you just have to get used to it and continue to improve at it.”
What did you learn by staying four years at North Carolina?
“I learned a lot. Every year I think I progressed and got better and learned something new. I think I’m a well-developed person, but I think I was able to gain about 40 pounds in college, which is going to help me tremendously at the next level, and I just have to continue to progress and continue that work ethic.”
Do you think you would be a good fit on this Kings team?
“Yes, I think I would be able to stretch the floor. I think I can shoot the ball very well, and with Cousins inside, it would give him more space to operate and move around.”
Having played with several NBA prospects at North Carolina, do you think there is more to your game that hasn’t been showcased?
“I think we can show a lot more. We all kind of sacrificed a little bit for the team and tried not to do anything outside of what the team needed. I think we all have our little tendencies that we had that we didn’t show. I think my ability to shoot was something I wasn’t able to really show that much in college, but I think I’ll be able to show it at the next level.”
Do you think it was advantageous playing on such a talented team?
“Yes, definitely. If you go to a team where you’re the only person scoring and you get all the shots, it’s going to be a huge transition going to the next level where you’re probably not going to be the man, you’re not going to get as many shots and you just have to be able to do the role-player things. You have to be able to rebound, block shots, defend your man and be able to make the open shots. I played in that system, I know what it’s like to be a role player, and I’m fine with it. So going forward, I think it will help me tremendously.”
JaMychal Green
How did the workout go today?
“It was a nice workout. We had a lot of talent here today. I think we got after it, and I think for the most part everybody did well.”
How was it to go up against Tyler Zeller and what did you think of his play?
“Playing at North Carolina and watching him on TV for a couple of games, he’s a great player. For me to go against him, it was a great one-on-one battle. I had to go at him. He’s a highly-ranked player on the board, and there’s no better way than to go against a top competitor.”
Did you and Zeller just go head-to-head or were you paired together as well?
“For the most part it was just me against him, but I did a lot of one-on-one against everybody.”
What kind of feedback did you get from the coaching staff?
“They said I shot the ball well, played good defense, and I just need to work on my ball handling a little more.”
How do you think you would fit in on the Kings?
“I think I’d just be able to go out there and defend, make a wide-open, mid-range jumper and rebound the ball for them.”
Is there a current or former player with whom you would compare you game?
“I would say Taj Gibson, Brandon Bass and J.J. Hickson.”
Where are you hearing you might go in this year’s Draft?
“From any range of (pick) 25 to 45.”
Free Throws
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Prospect Interviews
