Throughout the college season, pro scouts who watched Georgetown’s Greg Monroe were flat out impressed by his passing skills.
But they were equally concerned about his strength, his ability to hold his ground against NBA bigs and his overall shooting. If not seen as a scoring threat, he won’t draw double teams and so his terrific passing skill is negated. Sort of like being the best swimmer in Death Valley.
So the 6-foot-11 Monroe set about doing something about it in the offseason.
“Everything,” Monroe, who had 12 assists in one game, the most ever by a Big East center, said when asked what he’s worked on. “Mostly a lot of shooting, ball-handling, moves in the post, trying to get stronger.”
At yesterday’s workout that included power forward Ekpe Udoh of Baylor, the Nets saw growth in Monroe.
“Monroe definitely has improved some parts of his game from the college season,” said Nets assistant Tom Barrise who helped conduct the session. “He’s got a little righty jump-hook I don’t think we saw during the year.”
And he’s stronger. Add the improvements to the array of talent already in place and Monroe is no-brainer early in the draft. As is Udoh.
“You’ll see both of them in the NBA,” Barrise said, “and their names will be called pretty early.”
How early?
“Top 10, I’d say maybe top eight,” Barrise said. “By 10, both should be gone.”
But as much as the Nets like them — and they like both — neither should view homes in New Jersey. Neither will be picked at No. 3. Neither will be seen anywhere near 27 where the Nets control Dallas’ first-round pick.
The workout yesterday had good point guard play — Armon Johnson of Nevada, Anthony Johnson of Montana, Edgar Sosa of Louisville and Tory Jackson of Notre Dame also auditioned along with wings Duke Crews of Bowie State and Marko Keselj of Serbia. But the best passer may have been Monroe.
“Growing up, that’s something I did and it became natural, became fun. It’s something I love to do. It’s something I did that, over time, turned into a skill,” said Monroe, who stressed he’s not a point guard trapped in a big man’s body. “Nah, I’ll pass, but I don’t want to dribble or run.”
So Monroe, the more gifted played offensively, butted heads with Udoh, the more skilled defender.
“Very competitive, tough workout. It was good to actually go against one of the best power forwards in the draft,” said Udoh, who was intent on “just playing hard, multi-effort, that I’m not going to back down . . . just having an ongoing motor, trying not to stop.”
And though Monroe or Udoh don’t figure at 27 or 31, the Nets’ second-round pick, Armon Johnson, whose draft stock is rising, just might.
“Great body. NBA body. Long arms. Probably can play two positions in our league. Probably more of a slasher at two and would have to grow into the point guard state,” Barrise said. “He’s in the 25-35 range.”
As a point guard, Johnson stressed.
“I’m a point guard. That’s what I played three years in college, that’s what I plan on playing in the NBA,” he said.
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Syracuse small forward Wesley Johnson is in today by himself. . . . Big day is Monday when Derrick Favors of Georgia Tech, the Nets’ odds on choice at No. 3, and DeMarcus Cousins of Kentucky go at it. . . . Armon Johnson had one “what’d he say?” line, talking about his play. He was asked if he felt his game is not as well suited for workouts as games. “I don’t really get a chance to watch myself too much, unless it’s game tapes.”
Just curious. How else would he watch himself?