Suns International Scouting Consultant Tim Shea has heard the comparisons before. Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko and draft prospect Viktor Khryapa are both Russians with similar body types, including usually long arms. But, he said, the comparisons stop there.
“(Kirilenko) is much more of an athlete than this kid, but (Khryapa’s) a better shooter than Kirilenko,” Shea said of the 6-9 forward, who attended Tuesday morning’s pre-draft workout at America West Arena along with Arizona State forward Donnell Knight and Fresno State power forward Noel Felix. “I think those are the two big differences – the athleticism on one side and the shooting on the other side.”
Khryapa, who Shea said has that “Leave it to Beaver” look to him with his buzz cut, is projected as a first round pick in the upcoming June 26 NBA Draft.
“I wouldn’t compare him to anybody now,” Shea added. “He’s still a project. Give him a year to get to know what the NBA is all about. He can play basketball in this league. There is no question. I think in the right system, he can be very, very successful.”
The Jazz acquired the versatile Kirilenko with the 24th overall selection in the 1999 NBA Draft, but the 6-9 forward didn’t join the team until the 2001-02 season. After averaging 12.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in only his second season, Kirilenko is considered a future building block in Utah. Along with the Jazz forward, Khryapa is one of the most promising players Russia has produced in many years.
While Khryapa can’t match his Russian National Team teammate’s freekish athleticism, Shea said the 20-year-old has a reputation for being a hard worker.
“He’s the type of player that will not hurt you with a lack of energy,” Shea said of Khryapa, who is projected by CNNSI.com to be the Suns’ first-round selection (17th overall). “He’s a hard-nosed kid. He’ll give you an honest day of work. What you see is what you get. Anybody who takes him is going to get a good player.”
It didn’t hurt that his workaholic coach with CSKA Moscow (Russia) is the same coach Suns center Jake Tsakalidis had in Greece before Phoenix drafted him in the 2000 draft.
“(His coach is) a maniac when it comes to practicing. Viktor told me this morning, I think you call them ‘gym rats,’” Shea noted.
Unlike some foreign prospects, Khryapa already has a pretty good understanding of the English language and one Suns executive said Khryapa’s English was even better than Tsakalidis’ after two seasons.
In an interview after the workout, the early entry draft candidate said he’s anxious to play in the NBA’s fast-paced game.
“I like the transition basketball game like the NBA,” said Khryapa, who has already had tryouts with several NBA clubs, and has several more scheduled. “We have a fast break, but not a lot of times. In the NBA there are a lot of fast breaks and dunks.
