2011 NBA Combine Testing
In a world where everything must be measured or quantified or at least recorded in some way, comes the NBA Combine- where four years of practices, tournaments and games can be booster or destroyed by the combine results for athletic, strength, speed and agility testing. This year is no different where we'll talk about whose stock is on the rise and fall based on the testing.
Impressive
Marshon Brooks - Mid-first round
We've written a lot about Brooks in the past month or two since his stock keeps on climbing and is now seen as a solid mid-first round pick. He only bettered himself at the combine with good size (6'5 ¼") and a ridiculous wingspan (7'1"). Brooks also proved he is one of the best athletes in the draft with a 38 ½" vertical leap and impressive times in the lane agility drill and ¾-court sprint.
Norris Cole - Early second round
By this point, many have heard about Cole's 41-point, 20-rebound, 9-assists night back in February- not too bad for a guard that's under 6'2" in size. Cole helped himself even further when he recorded a 38 ½" vertical leap and the best two times in the lane agility testing and modified lane agility testing. Also impressive is the fact that he benched (185 pounds) more than his own body weight (175 pounds) 11 times- better than most guards in this draft.
Tobias Harris - Mid-first round
Harris didn't stand out in any one area, but he measured out well across the board to further the belief that Harris will be able to play either forward spot in the NBA. He'll be undersized, which we all knew as he is a shade under 6'8", but he had a very good vertical leap (37 ½"). Helping him out will be a 10.96 lane agility time and 3.17 second ¾-court spring.
JaJuan Johnson - Late first round
Here's a player we've been very high on throughout the past two seasons with no only his size (6'10") and length (7'2" wingspan), but his ability to score both inside and out as he developed 3-point range. Johnson had the top vertical leap for any forward/center at 38" and a very quick 3.14 second ¾-court spring, which would put him in the top two or three frontcourt players at the combine. His biggest weakness always figured to be his strength as he is about 220 pounds, but Johnson benched 185 pounds 15 times. He will be a first round pick after this.
Iman Shumpert - Early second round
We've loved Shumpert's size (6'5 ½") with a 6'9 ½" wingspan ever since he set foot on campus at Georgia Tech, but his inconsistent perimeter shooting and struggling turnover problems had him slip down our board a bit. But no fear, Shumpert's 42" vertical leap, tied for the best in camp, and his 18 bench reps, second in camp, will help him out on draft night.
Less Than Remarkable
Kawhi Leonard - Top 10
We knew that his strength was a bit of an issue, but the versatile forward, at 227 pounds, could only bench the 185 pound bar three times. Leonard's 32" inch vertical leap was also worse than we expected for someone with his smooth athleticism.
Demetri McCamey - Second round
The Fighting Illini point guard didn't impress in this combine. He posted a 33" vertical leap and failed to record a single repetition in the bench press. His lane agility drill times were not that great as he finished behind most other guards and some forwards.
Nikola Vucevic - Late first round
The heavy-footed 7-footer posted some of the worst measurements all-around in the combine. Starting with his 25" vertical leap, which was 5" short of the second-worst, along with finishing in the bottom four in the lane agility drills.
Jordan Williams - Late first round - early second
Williams measured in smaller than we initially thought at 6'9" in shoes and still flat-footed despite a new, chiseled appearance. His agility and speed drills were the camp's worst in all two of the three measurements.
By President Corey Ruff - 5-30-11
