NBA Draft: Boogie Ellis, Enrique Freeman Showcase the Stars of the G League Elite Camp
News from the transfer portal and updates on athletes who might return to college kick off draft combine week.
The G League Elite Camp, where the 45 top players not invited to the main selection combine got the opportunity to play in front of NBA clubs and audition for a spot in the combine, kicked off the NBA’s week-long pre-draft festivities in Chicago this past weekend. Most players at the event are competing for a coveted two-way contract, which has historically been enough to entice most players away from the college game and into the pro ranks. However, a select few players see their stock soar at the event each year and play their way into more serious draft pick consideration.
The most notable
The lack of standout performances in scrimmage play is as good an indicator as any that there weren’t any big snubs on the first draft combine roster. Based on their performance, the following five players were invited to the combine: Boogie Ellis of USC; Jesse Edwards of West Virginia; Enrique Freeman of Akron; Isaac Jones of Washington State; and Nae’Qwan Tomlin of Memphis.
Probably the biggest gainer in my stock over the weekend was Freeman. He will be 24 years old when the NBA season begins. A former walk-on with the Akron Zips, he finds numerous ways to improve the game with his activity on the glass, floor-spacing abilities, and defensive toughness. He was one of the few players that performed admirably in both contests, therefore his promotion was well-earned.
With a successful weekend, Jones, a deep sleeper whose time in college includes stints at Wenatchee Valley College, the Idaho Vandals, and Washington State Cougars, continued his ascent up the boards. He has a powerful motor, bounces off the floor more than you might think, and has some floor stretching ability.
Despite having a quiet game on Sunday, Ellis was the most effective player on Saturday, scoring 23 points, and he deserved the call-up. Although Ellis’s shoot-first combo guard style of play fits in nicely with the players who have excelled in this tournament in the past, it served as a helpful reminder of his innate ability to make shots and play in ball screens. In the long run, his NBA career will be determined by his defense and ball distribution skills.
Baba Miller of Florida State was one player I believed should have been called up. Since moving to the NBA from Spain, Miller’s name has piqued the interest of clubs, and he had a fantastic weekend. At 216 pounds, he was considerably more at ease playing as a conventional forward than the large wing that his previous projections had him being. Though he still needs a lot of refinement, he looked good handling the ball and finishing around the rim and showed some promise as a small-ball center.