To put a cap on the Kentucky players that were selected in the NBA Draft, I’ve compiled a key quote about each player along with some video and written features on each of the guys, plus some thoughts from head coach John Calipari. You will have to click on the links for complete access to each story.
Enes Kanter (third to the Utah Jazz)
“If you were looking at him as a football player he is a north-south guy. He is not going to dazzle you with footwork, he is going to try and run over you. He gives us some length. To go along with what we have inside he gives Coach Corbin some options. You have to remember he’s 19 years old and didn’t play last year, but he is a willing worker and I think that is key. Here is a kid that didn’t play last year and had a 5.9% body fat, and did as well as anybody on the treadmill.” — Kevin O’Connor, Utah Jazz general manager
Transcript of quotes Story: Enes Kanter gives the Utah Jazz an inside force (The Salt Lake Tribune)Audio: Kanter’s first interview (Jazz.com)Video: Analysis of Kanter (Jazz.com)Video: Jazz GM on Kanter (Jazz.com)
Brandon Knight (eighth to the Detroit Pistons)
“Brandon Knight wasn’t the Pistons’ biggest need, but he was the best talent on the board when the Pistons selected and GM Joe Dumars didn’t hesitate to take him. I applaud that. Dumars can figure out how to fit Knight into a somewhat crowded backcourt, and teams typically fare better when they don’t worry about fit and take the best player on the board. Knight isn’t a sure thing, but he’s a hardworking, unselfish player with all the tools to be great if he puts it together.” — ESPN draft analyst Chad Ford in the Detroit Free PressAudio: Brandon Knight phone interview (Pistons.com)Video: Joe Dumars on Brandon Knight (Pistons.com)Story: Where Knight fits with the Pistons (Pistons.com)Story: Palace Knight (Pistons.com)Story: National writers give thumbs-up to Pistons’ picks (Detroit Free Press)
Josh Harrellson (45th to the New York Knicks)
“[He’s] a need that we need. He’s a big body, obviously. He came in and had a very nice workout. He showed that he’ll bang people around. He’s tough, he’s big. He had a nice touch shooting-wise. He can put the ball on the floor a little bit. We’ll see if he can adapt to the NBA game, but we think he has a chance, a good chance, and we’re looking forward to seeing him.” — Mark D’Antoni, New York Knicks head coach, in Zagsblog
Story: Five biggest draft surprises (ESPN.com)Story: Harrellson what the Knicks need (Zagsblog)Photos: Harrellson in action (Knicks.com)
DeAndre Liggins (53rd to the Orlando Magic)
“Playing on a Kentucky team loaded with star power and elite NBA prospects, Liggins was often overlooked over the past two seasons. But it was his ability to guard the other team’s best scorer and his willingness to do the dirty work that endeared him to Smith and the Magic. He has good size at 6-foot-6 and 202 pounds and he averaged 8.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists a game last season for a Kentucky team that reached the Final Four.” — John Denton, writer for OrlandoMagic.com
Story: Orlando’s draft analysis (OrlandoMagic.com) Story: Draft grades (Orlandopinstripedpost.com)Video: President of Basketball Operations Otis Smith on Liggins (OrlandoMagic.com)
What John Calipari had to say … (via CoachCal.com)On Kanter …“The Millers are a super ownership group and I loved what Enes said about the Big Blue Nation. For all our UK fans, this was another big, big night where all four players were drafted. I was glad to see the NBA recognize Enes as from UK and Turkey. I guess some outlets didn’t recognize him as part of our family. But Enes recognizes that he is from UK and that’s more important.”
On Knight …“After Brandon was chosen at No. 8, I sat with his family at the table and I said, “Our ego wanted him to go at 3, 4 or 5 but at the end of the day he’s in a great situation with a terrific organization led by Joe Dumars and his staff and again, fate intervened. Tayshaun (Prince) is not only one of the great players in the NBA, but a great person to help teach Brandon what it means to be professional.”
On Harrellson …“I had a really good feeling about Josh and we knew New York loved him. They had told us his workout blew them away. I knew Boston and some other teams that really wanted him and were going to try and move up. In fact, there was another team willing to buy a pick to move up for Josh. Think about what I’m saying – what a transformation! Josh changed his body, his attitude, his approach and his skillset. He changed his belief in himself all through hard work and knowing that when the tide rises, everyone is able to reach their dreams.”
On Liggins …“DeAndre was the one I was worried about because I knew he had great workouts with three or four organizations. He was going to have to be picked before some very good players with great credentials. And that was my worry with him. I knew that he could do it. I just didn’t know if the clubs knew him as well as I did.”
