Kentucky, Louisville basketball players invited to NBA combine
News that the NBA draft’s anticipated top three picks will not attend this week’s combine could boost University of Kentucky product Julius Randle’s stock.
Randle, along with teammate James Young, University of Louisville graduate Russ Smith and Indiana’s Noah Vonleh, were on Monday announced among the 60 players invited to work out for NBA teams at the largest pre-draft showcase.
The combine runs from Wednesday through Sunday in Chicago. ESPN will broadcast portions of it, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday on ESPNU before switching to ESPN2 from 1 to 3 p.m.
The combine will be without Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker, who Yahoo! Sports reported Sunday turned down invitations. The practice isn’t uncommon for the top pick — what’s left to prove? — but could be seen as ducking evaluations in Embiid’s case, as he’s dealt with back issues.
Instead, the spotlight will be on Randle and other projected lottery picks. Headliners include Arizona’s Aaron Gordon and Australian point guard Dante Exum, who join Randle in competition for top-five status.
Players will undergo physicals, athletic testing and measured drills in front of scouts. Much like with the ultra-popular NFL combine, participants can also schedule one-on-one meetings with franchises.
The combine invitation listing did not include Chane Behanan, the former U of L forward who was kicked off the team, enrolled as a transfer at Colorado State and last month declared for the draft.
• Randle, with agent George Bass, is listed by DraftExpress.com as the No. 5 pick in this year’s draft to the Boston Celtics.
• Vonleh, the 6-foot-10 Hoosiers center, is listed seventh to the Sacramento Kings in DraftExpress’ latest mock draft. He hired agent Jeff Schwartz.
• Young, who’s tapped rapper Jay-Z’s sports agency to represent him, is one spot out of the lottery at No. 15 to the Atlanta Hawks.
• Smith remains solidly in the second round as the 48th overall pick of 60 to the Milwaukee Bucks. His agent is Mike Higgins.
Jonathan Lintner can be reached at (502) 582-4199; follow him on Twitter @JonathanLintner.