Every year we see a player impress in private workouts and go shooting up the draft board.
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In the 2014 NBA Draft, it looks like that play will be former Indiana Hoosiers’ big man Noah Vonleh.
Vonleh has long been considered a likely lottery pick. His mix of size and athleticism has many scouts drooling even if he was fairly raw for a Hoosiers team that suffered through a very difficult season after losing two top-five picks to the 2013 NBA Draft in Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo and Charlotte Hornets’ big man Cody Zeller.
In fact, Vonleh’s stock is rising so much, the Orlando Magic, who hold the fourth-overall pick, will be working him out, according to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com.
Noah Vonleh will work out for Sacramento on Monday, Lakers on Wednesday, Orlando on June 9 and Boston on June 12, source told ESPN.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 30, 2014
Chad Ford of ESPN.com talked to scouts about Vonleh’s rise.
Noah Vonleh drawing serious praise from NBA execs after a workout in NY on Wed.
— NBA Big Board (@chadfordinsider) May 30, 2014
Said another "Vonleh's got elite physical tools and is very skilled. He should be in the same group with Wiggins, Embiid, Parker & Exum"
— NBA Big Board (@chadfordinsider) May 30, 2014
"Vonleh was good. Didn't shoot it well but everything else was very good to ridiculously good" according to 1 NBA exec.
— NBA Big Board (@chadfordinsider) May 30, 2014
The Magic are widely believed to be high on Dante Exum, but a talented big man could sway them in another direction.
Vonleh averaged 11.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game last season.