NBA Draft 2013: Shane Larkin Impresses Utah Jazz With Workout

Feb 27, 2013; Coral Gables, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes guard Shane Larkin (0) drives to the basket past Virginia Tech Hokies forward Joey Van Zegeren (2) in the second half at the BankUnited Center. Miami won 76-58. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports /

Shane Larkin worked out in Salt Lake City yesterday for the Utah Jazz, alongside prospects such as Lorenzo Brown of North Carolina State, Reggie Bullock of North Carolina, Amath M’Baye of Oklahoma, Tony Mitchell of North Texas, and Malik Story of Nevada.

According to Jazz head scout Walt Perrin, Larkin was impressive. He was matched up with five other players, all at least 6’5″. Larkin is just 5’11”, but silenced a lot of critics after recording the second highest vertical leap in the history of the draft combine at 44 inches.

"“Shane’s 44 vertical is unbelievable for a point guard. It was eye-popping seeing those kind of numbers from Shane.”"

Apparently Perrin was impressed by his outstanding display of athleticism at the combine. However, facts are facts, and Larkin stands under 6 foot tall. There are players that have excelled such as Allen Iverson and Nate Robinson recently, but it is still a concern.

However, if he can prove that he can handle bigger opponents, he may just be a diamond in the rough. Larkin could prove to be one of the rare successful average-sized human beings in the NBA.

"“It was good that I had to go out and play with bigger players. I think I proved that I can do it. I’ve seen people say that, ‘His height, he can’t play defense, da-da-da,’ so I went out today to prove that. Today was big for me and I think I did a pretty good job.’’"

Those are the words that Larkin chose for his critics after Wednesday’s workout.

Regardless of what so called experts have to say, the Utah Jazz were impressed with Larkin’s workout. Perrin said after the workout, “Does it matter? There’s a couple of other players in the league (that size) still playing. If a guy can play, it doesn’t matter what his size is.”

As it stands, Utah have two first-round picks in this June’s draft. With either the fourteenth or twenty-first pick, it is a possibility that Larkin is available at both of those slots. While his athleticism is undoubted, his height is still a concern for scouts around the league.