Two of the top perimeter players in this year’s draft will take center stage in a pre-draft workout taking place in Sacramento on Friday. The Sacramento Kings announced a six-man workout Wednesday afternoon that will feature Rodney Hood of Duke and Zach LaVine of UCLA.
Hood was originally scheduled to visit the Kings last Saturday, but was scratched from the workout at the last minute. The 21-year-old forward played just one season at Duke after transferring from Mississippi State following the 2011-12 campaign. Hood averaged 19.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per 40 minutes a game. He is projected as a late lottery pick in most mock drafts.
Hood will be tested Friday when he matches up against LaVine. The 18-year-old out of UCLA might be the most athletic player in this year’s draft. During his pre-draft workout with the Lakers a few weeks ago, LaVine displayed a maximum vertical leap of 46 inches. Per 40 minutes, the 6-5 guard averaged 15.4 points, 2.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds a game. Most mock drafts currently project him as a mid-first-round pick.
Hood and LaVine will be joined by Nick Johnson (Arizona), Sim Bhullar (New Mexico State), Elijah Pittman (Marshall/D-League) and Richard Solomon (California). Of the other four players, Johnson is the only player projected to be selected in this year’s draft. He is slated on some boards as a potential second-round pick. Johnson helped lead the Wildcats to the Elite Eight in his final season at Arizona, averaging 19.7 points and 3.4 assists per 40 minutes while posting a true-shooting percentage of 55 percent.
Friday’s workout is the fifth workout that the Kings have held in Sacramento ahead of this year’s draft. They reportedly were in Chicago earlier this week getting a look a potential lottery picks Nik Stauskas of Michigan and Doug McDermott of Creighton.
Sim Bhullar
College: New Mexico State
Height: 7-5
Weight: 360 lbs.
Position: Center
Rodney Hood
College: Duke
Height: 6-8
Weight: 215 lbs.
Position: Forward
Zach LaVine
College: UCLA
Height: 6-5
Weight: 180 lbs.
Position: Guard
Nick Johnson
College: Arizona
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200 lbs.
Position: Guard
Elijah Pittman
College: Marshall/Delaware NBA D-League
Height: 6-9
Weight: 230 lbs.
Position: Forward
Richard Solomon
College: California
Height: 6-10
Weight: 235 lbs.
Position: Forward
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