As teams prepare for the NBA Draft, prospects are busy traveling the country for private workouts and meetings. From now until June 20, players will work rigorously to impress NBA clubs.
Some draft hopefuls will workout for as many as a dozen teams over the next month. Teams are beginning to ramp up workouts and will be looking at several prospects in the coming weeks.
It appears as though the Thunder are beginning to host workouts.
While some NBA teams elect to publicly disclose which prospects they bring in, there are other teams, like the Thunder, that do not announce their workouts so it can be a bit difficult to track which players they are looking at.
Based on various media reports, there have been a smattering of prospects that have emerged that recently worked out with the Thunder so we took a look at those players.
Myles Powell, Seton Hall – Guard
According to multiple reports, the Thunder hosted a group of prospects on Sunday as Seton Hall guard Myles Powell was among those players that participated.
As a junior, Powell averaged a career-high 23.1 points, four rebounds, 2.9 assists and two steals in 34 games last season. He shot 44.6 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from three-point range.
The 6-foot-2 guard finished 13th in the country in scoring and was second in the Big East. He was named to the All-Big East First Team for the first time and led the Pirates to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year.
Powell is among the 40 prospects that will be attending the NBA G League Elite Camp in Chicago May 13-14. The event is designed to showcase the prospects that didn’t receive an invite to the NBA Draft Combine.
As an underclassman, Powell has until May 29 to withdraw his name from the NBA Draft to maintain his college eligibility for next season. For most players, the feedback received over the next few weeks will determine if they keep their name in the draft or not.
He is considered to be one of the best shooters in this year’s draft class, which fills an obvious need for the Thunder. However, he is not currently projected to be drafted by any major publication so there is a chance he decides to return to school next season.
Jalen Pickett, Siena – Guard
Siena freshman Jalen Pickett was also among the prospects brought in to workout with the Thunder on Sunday.
The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 15.8 points, 6.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds and two steals in 33 games last season for Siena. He shot 43.7 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from three-point range.
Pickett was named the MAAC Rookie of the Year after his strong first season with Siena. He recorded a career-high 46 points and 13 assists against Quinnipiac on Feb. 17.
He established himself as a strong shooter from deep and off of the dribble. He set up his teammates well throughout the season and has good size for his position.
Pickett is another prospect expected to attend the G League Elite Camp May 13-14 and will have a great opportunity to showcase his game in front of coaches, scouts and executives.
In an interview with the Times Union, Picket said he also worked out with the San Antonio Spurs and has the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday before the G League Elite Camp.
Steven Enoch, Louisville – Center
Louisville’s Steven Enoch has also been linked to the Thunder.
Enoch averaged a career-high 9.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in 34 games for the Cardinals last season. The 6-foot-10, 260-pound center is projected to be a prototypical big man that has the tools to play at the next level.
While many believe he can be a professional, he will need to continue to develop his skills so many believe he is a strong candidate to return to school next season.
He showed a nice touch around the basket on the offensive end and shot 35.9 percent (14-of-39) from three-point range. He also showed a decent midrange game and has the strength needed in the paint.
While he has shown some potential, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the big man return to Louisville for one more season.
Joe Wieskamp, Iowa – Guard
Iowa freshman guard Joe Wieskamp reportedly worked out with the Thunder on Sunday.
Wieskamp averaged 11.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 35 games for Iowa while he shot 56.4 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from three-point range.
In his first year at Iowa, Wieskamp proved to be a strong shooter after he finished fifth in the Big Ten in three-point percentage. Against Illinois on Jan. 20, Wieskamp recorded 24 points on 6-of-6 shooting from deep.
Wieskamp is not currently projected to be drafted by any major NBA Mock Draft and is likely going through the NBA Draft process to receive feedback and evaluation on his game.
His decision to enter the NBA Draft was a bit surprising to some and it seems reasonable to think he will return to Iowa for his sophomore season.
Jordan Murphy, Minnesota – Forward
The organization reportedly met with former Minnesota forward Jordan Murphy last month at the annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
The event is designed to showcase the top seniors in the country in front of a contingent of NBA scouts, coaches and executives. In three games, Murphy averaged 5.7 points and 8.3 rebounds.
The 6-foot-6 Murphy averaged 14.4 points, 11 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season at Minnesota while shooting 48.7 percent from the field. He led the Big Ten in rebounding and double-doubles, with 22.
Murphy left Minnesota as the second all-time leading scorer in program history and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team by a panel of media members. He is currently not projected to be drafted.
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The players the Thunder have reportedly met with are all candidates to return to school in the coming weeks. The organization likely wanted to meet with those prospects before the May 29 deadline.
With the G League Elite Camp and the NBA Draft Combine next week, the team will meet with more prospects in the coming days and we could have a better idea what the team is targeting in the upcoming NBA Draft on June 20.
The Thunder currently have the 21st overall pick.
