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NBA Draft Combine Doesn’t Matter To These Players

By Ryan Blackburn

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 9, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles forward Henry Ellenson (13) dribbles around St. John's Red Storm forward Kassoum Yakwe (14) in the second half during the Big East conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. Marquette defeated St. John's 101-93. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles forward Henry Ellenson (13) dribbles around St. John’s Red Storm forward Kassoum Yakwe (14) in the second half during the Big East conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. Marquette defeated St. John’s 101-93. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports /

Honorable Mentions:

Henry Ellenson – Hand Size

Ellenson played out his freshman year at Marquette and averaged 17.0 points per contest in 33 games. His team did not make the NCAA tournament, but even still, Ellenson made a huge impact.

In the NBA, the young big man will look to be a scorer at all three levels. Many teams look at the size of a prospect’s hands to determine just how effective they can be with their touch. The bigger a player’s hands, the more likely they are to control the ball and score easily.

Ellenson tied for the third-shortest hand length at 8.50 inches, just ahead of Perry Ellis and Kyle Wiltjer, but don’t expect it to have a huge effect on him.

With his prototypical power forward height of 6-foot-10 without shoes and a standing reach of 9 feet, the power forward has the length to take his time and secure the ball. Don’t expect him to struggle scoring at the next level.

Marquese Chriss – Lane Agility Time

Chriss’ lane agility time of 11.93 seconds is currently one of the worst scores at the combine, and it fails to show just how athletic he is.

The 6’9 power forward has incredible bounce and athleticism, which came forth in his 38.5-inch max vertical leap and his 3/4-court sprint of 3.26 seconds. The former Washington Husky averaged 1.6 blocks per game and in order to block many of those shots, he had to be quick in the lane.

He is still filling out his body, and being so gangly, changing direction can be one of the last skills that he develops athletically. If we are forced to paint a picture of Chriss, slow in the lane would not be words I would utilize. He will be just fine at the next level.

Next: Small Stature: Part I