Suns first player workouts

[sunsfn]

This small article was in the paper here today.
---------------------------
The suns hosted their first group of draft candidates for workouts this week. It included North Carolina State's Julius Hodges, North Carolina's Jackie Manuel, South Carolina's Carlos Powell and Arizona State's Jason Braxton.

 

[sunsfn]

I found this on Hodges at draft city.
-----------------------
6' 7", 205 pounds
11/20/1983 (21 years old)
projected in the NBA pg/sg

They have him going in the 2nd round at #37 to the Lakers.

2003-2004: So incredibly versatile, Hodge can play any position on the court effectively (unless weight is an issue). At 6'6, Hodge runs the point for the Wolfpack and never has any problem getting the ball up court. He is a pretty good shooter from a standstill all the way out to 20 feet, but (see weaknesses). He has become amazing at getting to the basket and creating his own shots. A very tough player, Hodge puts up with a lot of contact and still manages to maintain high energy levels despite his small stature. He averages a lot of rebounds per game, considering he spends most of the game running the point. Long arms and good athleticism solidify his physical skills. A very emotionally involved player, Hodge is without a doubt NC State's vocal leader.

2003-2004: Decision making isn't always as good as it should be if he wants to play PG full-time. A very skinny guy with little meat on his bones. A streaky shooter. He has a sad assist to turnover ratio this year and has the tendency to commit stupid and unnecessary fouls out of frustration. Not really his fault but he plays for a school that doesn't get much national exposure and thus he does not either.

2003-2004: If State wins the ACC tourney or makes it well into the NCAA tournament, there is a possibility that Julius Hodge would turn pro at the end of this season. However, neither of these things is very likely so it is probably safe to assume that he will remain at State for his senior year. We here at DraftCity consider him to be a first-round caliber player for the talent available in the 2005 draft.

2003-2004: Though he is not the best draft prospect of the ACC, he is in my mind possibly the best player in the ACC. This kid is incredibly versatile and talented, it is just a shame that he doesn't have even half as much muscle as he does game. At 6'6, Hodge plays point guard for the Wolfpack and does a great job on both ends of the court. He has the ability to get to the basket and score at will, but if the lane is crowded, he could just as easily take the outside jumper and hurt you that way. The only flaw that I see with Julius Hodge is that he is extremely skinny. I see him overcoming his physical problems to have a solid NBA career.

 

[sunsfn]

Here is some info about the others.
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Jackie Manuel
[font=Arial, Helvetica]
Senior[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Hometown:
West Palm Beach, Fla.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]High School:
Cardinal Newman[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Height / Weight:
6-5 / 189[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Position:
G/F[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Birthdate:
03/29/1983[/font]


[font=Arial, Helvetica]Carlos Powell[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Class:
Senior[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Hometown:
Florence, S.C.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]High School:
Wilson[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Height / Weight:
6-7 / 225[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Position:
F[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Birthdate:
08/29/1983[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Experience:
3VL[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Major:
Sociology[/font]


[font=Arial, Helvetica]Jason Braxton[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Hometown:
Moreno Valley, Calif.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]High School:
Canyon Springs H.S.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Height / Weight:
6-2 / 206[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Position:
Point Guard[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Birthdate:
12/10/1982[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Experience:
4V[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Degree:
B.I.S., May of 2005[/font]

 

[PhxGametime]

So far, so good - I have tape on all 4 Prospects but I really never watched Carlos Powell... he was rated as a 2nd Round Pick and I didn't get his gamefilm until I believe NIT...

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

So far, so good - I have tape on all 4 Prospects but I really never watched Carlos Powell... he was rated as a 2nd Round Pick and I didn't get his gamefilm until I believe NIT...

well stop flapping yer lips, sit down, watch the tapes, and give us all your feedback.

 

[PhxGametime]

LOL I got the Suns games to watch though... I have 65 out of 108 early entry Prospects and being that I only have 4 International out of 35 - I should have gamefilm on a lot of Prospects if they're Drafted.

Ouchie, I used to keep gamefilm because I collect sportscards and I'd like to see who IMO has game but I hardly have the money anymore but I have-to have a lot of gamefilm of 1 Prospect to have a good idea of what his game is like...


I have a Draft report on Julius Hodge on 1 of the Threads on this board... I'm not sure how to Transfer over but I kept all the 1st and 2nd Rounders. I'm just not the best judge of talent and I'm not the smartest, but I will post (I made them all short)...


Julius Hodge G/F North Carolina State: Three position player in the next level, stat sheet stuffer, excellent ball-handler, will penetrate, good prospect but will need to improve the 3PT shot - to be complete player
KEY STATS: PTS 17.0 REB 6.6 AST 4.8 - COMPARISON: M. Daniels


LOL okay it sucks but there are a whole bunch of others, if you look for them.

 

[PhxGametime]

He's a little thinner than JJ but game is similar (kind of) minus 3PT shooting, he's being talked about as a 2nd Rounder by most so, not sure if the Suns would be willing to take him at #21 or Trade down... or if he's a early, mid 2nd Round talent... Trading up in 2nd Round.

 

[PhxGametime]

STATS:

PTS 17.0 REB 6.6 AST 4.8 STL 1.4 BLK .7 FG .49 FT .67 3PT .26 FTM 169 3PTM 14

If you notice from his previous 3 years, his 3PT shooting took a hit, as did his FT shooting for a little bit. IMO those are solid stats and that's why I had him listed as possible 1st Rounder, he sort of has an akward shot but PTS, REB, AST, STL, BLK, etc. are all there and he's a good athlete - with the lack of a 3PT shot right now, I think that's why he's being listed as a 2nd Rounder.


Jason Braxton, I believe is the PG on ASU that can really defend but was a horrible shooter - so he'd be more of a Undrafted FA pickup... I should overcheck his stats, I don't follow ASU but I'm not sure he's highly rated.

 

[George O'Brien]

None of these guys are part of the likely mid first round types. On surface they sound like guys who might be available in the second round, so I would not discount a trade for early 2nd.

 

[sunsfn]

None of these guys are part of the likely mid first round types. On surface they sound like guys who might be available in the second round, so I would not discount a trade for early 2nd.

Yes, 2nd round or non drafted players to sign.

 

[PhxGametime]

Julius Hodge has moved to the 1st Round bubble and at Hoopshype, it mentions that the Suns worked out Ryan Gomes. That's a guy, that was rated high on NBADraft.net at 1 point there and I watched a game (w/o taping) and he was built like Rodney Rogers and didn't look like a great athlete but I have some gamefilm of him. I never really watched them, other than game on Tv I watched (w/o taping) because I'm usually not into the burly type but he has some really nice stats... I might try to catch a few minutes before Suns game... the other players were 2nd Round types and I believe 1 of them was that 7'0 center that had a soccer background, that seems to be moving up Draftboards.

 

[coloradosun]

I believe every year the Suns bring in the second round prospects first. They will probably comofluoge what they do in the first if they hang on to it.

 

[PhxGametime]

Ryan Gomes is 1 of the 1st Round bubble Prospects; I didn't get to see some film but he's another 3/4 that I could add to list... his stats are pretty impressive: something like 20 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST, 1.5 STL, and a pretty good 3PT shooter. Three assists is pretty impressive for a Prospect that can play the 4 in the Suns system and has enough range on shot.


I like the idea of working out Julius Hodge and Ryan Gomes so far, 2 1st round bubble Prospects that could fit into system. Hopefully soon, the Mid-Round Prospects work out...

 

[PhxGametime]

The Suns had a private workout for Tiras Wade SG LA Lafayette, another guy I have gamefilm of that I didn't watch...


Maybe when the Suns comeback and win Title, I can watch Gomes and Wade and try to give a Draft report like the other Prospects I did...

 

[sunsfn]

The suns have bought in a number of players that are 2nd round picks or free agent pick-ups. (10+)

I am wondering at this time if they will trade down late in the first to save money, or to pick up another player, an extra 2nd round pick, or maybe trade down for 2 2nd round picks.

They may be thinking the player they can get a few picks later is as good as they can get at 21, and there is another team looking to trade up.?

 

[George O'Brien]

A couple of days ago they worked out Francisco Garcia of Louisville. The mocks have him falling to the second round because he isn't that athletic. However, he is a great shooter.

 

[Joe Mama]

A couple of days ago they worked out Francisco Garcia of Louisville. The mocks have him falling to the second round because he isn't that athletic. However, he is a great shooter.

He's a less athletically/physically gifted version of Joe Johnson. He's actually probably a better distributor. His numbers dropped a little this last season, but that's because he was consistently double teamed. I would not be disappointed if they got Garcia.

Joe Mama

 

[PhxGametime]

A couple of days ago they worked out Francisco Garcia of Louisville. The mocks have him falling to the second round because he isn't that athletic. However, he is a great shooter.

I like a lot the Prospects, the team is bringing in Some will drop to 2nd because there are so many underclassman but with a solid workout, I wouldn't be disappointed in a lot of their workout Prospects...

I do want to see a couple of the higher rated Prospects though, I really hope they work out Andray Blatche. Warrick, Graham, etc. and others, Im sure the team has a good idea of what they bring to table but I want to see Blatche come in. It couldn't hurt, maybe against 1 of the burly types that the team is considering - if he can play well against a strong burly type, being that the NBA is much different Level than H.S... he might get more minutes, than anticipated.

 

[coloradosun]

Draftcity mentioned that Philly is looking to get into the first round. I wonder if Cheeks will want to hold on to Dalembert, we could move #21 and Hunter. Both players would have to be sign and trade.

 

[sunsfn]

Here are some more of the players the suns have tried out.

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Angelo Gigli​

Phoenix​

​

PF​

​

6-10​

​

1983​

​

Reggiana (Italy)​

​

-​

​

​

​

First-round bubble​

--------------------------​

​

Chris Rodgers​

​

Phoenix​

​

SG​

​

6-4​

​

Junior​

​

Arizona​

​

None​

​

​

​

Undrafted​

------------------​

​

Chevon Troutman

Phoenix​

​

PF​

​

6-7​

​

Senior​

​

Pittsburgh​

​

-​

​

​

​

Undrafted​

--------------------​

​

BJ Elder

Phoenix​

​

SG​

​

6-4​

​

Senior​

​

Georgia Tech​

-​

​

Late second-round pick
----------------------------

Eddie Fobbs

Phoenix​

​

PF​

​

6-11​

​

Senior​

​

SamHoustonState​

​

-​

​

Undrafted
------------------

Sharrod Ford

Phoenix​

​

PF​

​

6-9​

​

Senior​

​

Clemson​

​

-​

​

Undrafted
-----------------

Josh Pace

Phoenix​

​

SG​

​

6-6​

​

Senior​

​

Syracuse​

​

-​

​

Undrafted
-------------------

Deji Akindele

Phoenix​

​

C​

​

7-1​

​

Sophomore​

​

ChicagoState​

​

None​

​

Second-round pick
------------------------

Yakouba Diawara

Phoenix​

​

SF​

​

6-7​

​

Senior​

​

Pepperdine​

​

-​

​

Undrafted
--------------------

Ryan Gomes

Phoenix​

​

SF​

​

6-7​

​

Senior​

​

Providence​

​

Andrew Woolf​

​

First-round bubble
--------------------

Jack Ingram

Phoenix​

​

PF​

​

6-10​

​

Senior​

​

Illinois​

​

Steve Cronin​

​

Undrafted

 

[PhxGametime]

I really like Sharrod Ford, if he's on the Undrafted list, I like Rodgers from the UofA but IMO he should go back... I've already mentioned Gomes.

Troutman could be the strong burly PF in 2nd Round that punishes people in lane and I saw one game that he made two 3PTers with ease... I like Josh Pace but I'm not sure if he fits system - he can play the 1 and 2 but he seems like a halfcourt offense kind of guy. He can penetrate really well and can shoot some akward shots but not one 3PTer but if he's Drafted as a PG with #57, he'd be a role player with rebounding at the Point, a pretty decent passer, size, and should be a decent defender (just no 3PT shot)...

 

[JCSunsfan]

I would trade Barbosa and the #21 to move up enough to get Diogu. I believe he would be an excellent fit on our front line.

I would even consider trading Q and the #21 for Ike. Would Ainge bite?

 

[Chaplin]

I would even consider trading Q and the #21 for Ike. Would Ainge bite?

Wait a minute. Q AND the #21 for the #18 pick? Are you kidding?

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Wait a minute. Q AND the #21 for the #18 pick? Are you kidding?

Yah - that is absolutely ridiculous. Maybe Q and the #21 to move into the top 4......but I am not even sure about that

 

[sunsfn]

The suns are bringing in a lot of players for the 2nd round it seems to me.
They will probably put some of these unknowns they are bringing in on the summer league team. Of course that is if there is a summer league.