UCLA freshman Jrue Holiday, who's looking toward the upcoming NBA draft, has taken some time off from school to attend a training center in Florida. Holiday is planning to be at the IMG Academies in Bradenton for about 10 days until early next week but could cut his trip shorter, an IMG spokesman said.
Los Angeles Times, via HoopsHype. Holiday appears to be working with David Thorpe in some capacity.
almost 3 years ago
Tom Ziller
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Sounds like he'll be staying in the draft then.
Based on his attitude all season at UCLA, and this, I just can’t imagine he’ll be heading back to Westwood next season.
He's definitely in play for the rockets pick,
its good to see draftees working out early.
There now I've met the 75 word count. -pookeyguru
His draft stock is bound to go up in how he works out
There was a time when Russell Westbrook was 11-13 in mock drafts. Also, there’s gotta be a team willing to take him high too.
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Other than being a UCLA guard that looked out of place as a freshman, there is no comparison to Westbrook.
Westbrook was a sophomore when he declared, had the chance to play PG for a good part of the season while Collison was hurt, and had a great season for a team that went to the Final Four. He also continued to progress as the season went along, and was easily UCLA’s best player on both ends of the floor in their Final Four loss to Memphis.
In his chat
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=26102
From Thorpe’s chat:
James (UCLA): Thorpedo, I heard that Jrue Holiday and Earl Clark are with you down in Florida. How do they look?
SportsNation David Thorpe: Both are special talents. Nick Calathes is too. I’ll give everyone a full rundown of who is here later next month.
I liked Calathes and Holiday before I knew they were working with Thorpe. I like them even more now.
Me too.
Holiday did not have a good season at UCLA, but he did show glimpses of his potential. As a lottery pick, I wouldn’t go anywhere near him, but mid-to-late first round I think he’s well worth the risk. I would much rather take a chance on a guy like Holiday, who could develop into an all-star (or turn into a complete bust), than go the safe route and select a bench-quality PG with the Rockets pick.
Holiday probably won't
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Yeah
I don’t think he falls too far. DX has him going at #20 so anything’s possibly really. He could drop to us, he could go higher. Realistically I don’t think we land him.
www.mancancook.net
He's at 20 after a season where he wasn't a great performer
The reality is if that without Warren and those other players opting in, he should stay in. Jrue Holiday is much more likely to be a lottery pick the longer he stays in the draft, and the more he works out. I don’t think he will rise past 15, but he could.
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Physically he reminds me of Westbrook.
Every time I see he he really gets after it defensively. I think Maynor is the second best PG in the draft, but I really like Holiday.
Seriously?
I don’t see that at all. Westbrook as a sophomore was a beast – defensively and offensively. His athleticism was clearly a notch above almost everyone else in the NCAA, and he had countless YouTube moments because of it. Holiday? Not so much.
but Calathes will probably still be around.
If so do you take him @ 23 or try to take him first in the second round
"We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good." - Charles Barkley
I like Calathes enough that I wouldn't mind drafting him at 23
Depends on who else is left on the board, though.
If we draft big early, I would be OK with us spending both 23 and 31 on PG’s. Bring in both Calathes and Mills (for example).
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
I agree the early pick will likely influence the later picks
But, what happened to “not drafting by need” and “taking the best player available”?
You’ve said all three. I’m personally in the draft the player that helps your team the most camp. Just curious as to your thoughts on what seem to be conflicting positions to me.
Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott
by Kfan in Korea on Apr 25, 2009 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Clarifying
You always take the best player available. It is quite possible that at 23 and 31, the BPA’s could indeed be point guards, or the difference so small that you could take PG’s. For example, you could have Wayne Ellington just above (say) Calathes on your draft board. If you determine them to be basically equal in NBA potential and ability, take the guy that you need the most.
Also, the best player available mantra is much more crucial at the top of the draft. Once you get down to 23 and 31, it’s a little easier to take a flyer on someone.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
Sounds reasonable. Thanks for clarifying
Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott
by Kfan in Korea on Apr 25, 2009 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions
If I had three wishes....
I would wish that we get the #1 overall pick, pick Blake Griffin, and have Holiday fall to pick #23. Of course, that doesn’t mean Petrie will make the right choice and choose him. The guy is solid and has a great combo of size and speed. This is also an early sign that he has a passion for the game and wants to improve as much as he can. Oh yeah, and he isn’t Beno Udrih!
There’s only one problem……. There is no way teams let him slip to #23.
The guy will be a top 18 pick and possibly even a late lottery prize.
I say we step up to the plate and make a move or two to move up and grab a premiere talent like Holiday in the mid 1st round….. the price of a mid 1st rounder isn’t high at all.
by IBleedPurpleandBlack on Apr 24, 2009 9:10 PM PDT reply actions
But....
I’d still like to land Lawson…. though he reminds me of McCants
by IBleedPurpleandBlack on Apr 24, 2009 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions
nooooooooo McCants alikes
unless they actually pass the ball
by Brian5517209 on Apr 24, 2009 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions
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