NBA Draft Combine 2015: Prospects Primed to Boost Their Stock in Chicago
While it isn't always embraced by prospects at the very top of draft boards, the 2015 NBA draft combine will prove to be a make-or-break couple of days for hopefuls on the fringe of draft-selection status.
There is so much out of the prospects' hands when it comes to their draft status. Poor reputations can hang over a player's head, and hype surrounding international prospects can take spots away from former collegiate stars.
But there's always something to be said of a player who can step up when the lights come on, and many will get that opportunity in Chicago with five-on-five scrimmages returning to the fray. Let's take a look at three prospects who would do their draft stock well to go off against fellow future NBA talent.
J.P. Tokoto, SG, North Carolina
The quest for J.P. Tokoto to prove he's more than a high riser with a struggling shot begins in the Windy City.
His affinity for skying high above the rim, in addition to lockdown defending ability, has made Tokoto one of North Carolina's more intriguing NBA prospects over the last several years, but the bad has come along with the good. His shooting percentage dropped to just 42 percent in 2014-15 after two straight seasons above 48 percent, and he averaged a career-low 11.4 points per 40 minutes, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
One of the best aerial architects in this draft class, Tokoto figures to put up ridiculous vertical numbers. But his best chance for standing out will come in the five-on-five action, in which he'll be paired up with UConn's Ryan Boatright and Arizona's Brandon Ashley, per Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman:
Tokoto's stock may be slipping a bit as scouts rummage over film from his college days that show a limited shooting touch and a raw scoring ability, but he has the chance to right all of that this weekend. He'll be intent on leaving a fresh memory in front-office executives' minds that he is much more than a pogo-stick jumper.
Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky
After being a utility piece over his freshman season, Dakari Johnson didn't see much of an uptick in his sophomore campaign with Kentucky. But as ridiculous as it would sound at most other schools, Johnson wasn't able to stand out with the Wildcats like he can in Chicago.
He's already tipping the scales as the biggest player at the combine, Ford reported:
Anyone who has watched Johnson play knows that his game is predicated on that size as he uses it to carve out post space and hit the boards, but he rarely showcased his full arsenal with Kentucky. Johnson's ability as a post scorer is largely unknown but will begin to be put on display in Chicago.
Another victim of Kentucky's insane depth over the last couple of seasons, Johnson has the opportunity to make a name for himself this weekend.
R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State
Georgia State's R.J. Hunter won't be participating in the five-on-five drills, but he still embarks on Chicago with a plan to secure his status as a first-round pick.
Hunter may not be playing in the free-flowing scrimmage sessions, but plenty of teams will get to put their eyes on him. His camp told the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Doug Roberson that he's slated to work out for between six and nine teams.
Lauded as a knockdown shooter with limited offensive versatility, Hunter is trying to end that criticism by working on his on-ball prowess, per Roberson: “I’m really excited to show people my ball-handling. It’s come a long way in three weeks.”
While other parts of his game are developing, Hunter has left no doubt of his outside dominance, as Ford noted:
Those who watched Hunter lead Georgia State to a shocking NCAA tournament upset know how well he can stroke the three-pointer, but other areas of his game are still an unknown. A handful of workouts in Chicago could help to change that belief around the league.
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