Nick Wilson Named Director of Strength and Conditioning--detroittitans.com
Six Takeaways from the 2016 NBA Draft Combine--CollegeBasketballTalk
6. Small guards are still finding a wayStock Watch: Winners and losers of the 2016 NBA Draft Combine--USA Today
Boston Celtics star Isaiah Thomas has become a popular man among players. Not only was the point guard the last pick in the NBA Draft in 2011, but he’s also 5-foot-9.
The rise of Thomas into All-Star has given new motivation to smaller guards like Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis and Oakland’s Kay Felder.
Ulis just opted to through testing and didn’t play in the combine, but he is still a likely first-round pick after being one of college basketball’s best players this past season. Felder played very well at the combine and has a lot of confidence going into the draft.
With the NBA game going smaller and putting a focus on perimeter shooting and ball handlers, there is still plenty of room for smaller guards who can still make plays. Ulis and Felder are both elite playmakers who should be able to make a roster if given the right tools to work with.
Kay Felder | PG | Oakland
Felder tied the record for max vertical leap at the combine this week at 44 inches, despite skepticism about the veracity of those marks this year. Still, being anywhere near that mark shows what kind of explosive athlete we'll see in Felder.
"I just looked up at the thing and said 'go get it,'" Felder said of his leap. "I just thought if I'm going to be here, why not leave with your name on the tip of people's mouths."
That athleticism showed up on both ends in the 5-on-5 session, where the biggest revelation was his ability to defend. Felder harassed guys like Melo Trimble and Cat Barber into turnovers. Occasionally at Oakland -- because of his role offensively -- Felder didn't play with a ton of effort on defense, and it's his biggest hurdle in carving out an NBA role. His size will always be a hindrance in switching onto larger players, but he's powerfully built and he showed he can be a weapon on that end.
Offensively, Felder also played well, showing burst to get to the rim whenever he wanted and a terrific mid-range pull-up game -- essential at his size. His pick-and-roll instincts are great too, and he should be able to create for teammates at the next level. I don't believe he'll necessarily be a first-round pick, but Felder definitely helped himself.
UIC targets rim protector with final scholarship--The Catch and Shoot
Women's Basketball Golf Outing Set For July 29--uwmpanthers.com
Vanderbilt's Bryce Drew keeps promise at Valparaiso graduation--The Tennessean
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