CHICAGO - The 2016 NBA pre-draft combine in Chicago is a wrap after days of drills, scrimmages and interviews between teams and prospects. The Sixers will begin their workouts Monday, bringing in many of those from the combine and more. Before that gets underway, here are 10 more things to know from the combine.
1. A common trend at the draft combine was projected top picks foregoing media availability. Providence point guard Kris Dunn was one of the few anticipated top selections to meet with reporters. He explained his reason for participating, and it didn't have to do with promoting himself. "I've been talking to you guys because I have no problem talking to the media," said Dunn, who interviewed with the Sixers. "Whatever questions you guys have, I'm going to try to answer to the best of my ability. But the reason I am here in Chicago at the combine is to support my guys." Players Dunn works out with were at the combine, as was college teammate Ben Bentil.
2. Coming from St. Joe's, DeAndre' Bembry and Isaiah Miles have a network of alumni to turn to during the draft process, including the Knicks' Langston Galloway and Nuggets' Jameer Nelson. Bembry also leans on the advice of Cavs' All-Star Kyrie Irving after they both attended the same high school in New Jersey. "When we play pickup he tells me to be aggressive because of how aggressive he is, that's something I definitely got from him," Bembry said. "Looking for your shot but looking for your teammates as well is something I got from him." Bembry will work out with the Sixers.
3. Zhou Qi from China measured up as the combine's tallest participant at 7 feet, 1.25 inches without shoes and 7 feet, 2.25 inches with shoes. He also had the longest wingspan (7 feet, 7.75 inches) and standing reach (9 feet, 4.5 inches). Oakland point guard Kay Felder recorded the top max vertical leap at 44 inches. What makes this mark even more remarkable is the fact Felder measured in as the shortest player in the entire combine (5 feet, 9.5 inches in shoes).
4. Growing up as the son of a Hall of Famer, it was inevitable for Gary Payton II's background to be discussed during his pre-draft interviews. The Sixers inquired about the Oregon point guard's upbringing and motivation during their meeting. "They asked me, of course, just like everybody else does, about my father, how that was growing up," Payton said. "It's tough growing up as a kid just because your dad's a Hall of Famer. Everybody is going to compare you to him."
5. Iowa State forward Georges Niang said he would be excited to play for a rebuilding team like the Sixers. If that happened, he would also be reunited with Tilton Prep teammate Nerlens Noel, with whom he won a title. "I played with Nerlens Noel before, so playmaking for him would be a getting a touchback to when we were in high school together," Niang said. "Getting to play with those younger guys and really evolve together, I think it would be pretty cool." He plans to interview with the Sixers this weekend.
6. Maryland sophomore guard Melo Trimble met with the Sixers and will work out with them on May 25 as he contemplates his decision to stay in the draft. During his team interview, he emphasized how he feels he could impact a turnaround. "When I got there, we went to the tournament, which hadn't been done in a while," Trimble said. "I feel like wherever I go, I bring a winning culture."
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7. While Kentucky point guard Tyler Ulis measured in as the second-shortest player at the combine (5 feet, 10 inches with shoes, 5 feet, 8.75 inches without), slightly taller than Felder, he believes he could bring a big game to the NBA. "I'm shorter," he joked when asked why he was different than other players. "No, I'm just playing. I feel like my game's a lot different, my IQ. Not many point guards now are thinking the game the way I think, I don't think. I feel like my feel for the game is a lot different." Ulis plans to work out with the Sixers.
8. Miles left Chicago Friday night to fly to Philadelphia for St. Joe's graduation Saturday. "I definitely wanted to walk, mostly for my mom," Miles said. "We always talked about me graduating. It's more for her, just to see a smile on her face." Miles expects to work out with the Sixers.
9. Forward Kyle Wiltjer was tested in practice by future NBA talent during his two years at Kentucky before transferring to Gonzaga. Among his teammates who pushed him was Noel. "Playing against a really good, long, athletic guy, he's a great shot blocker, I had to be on my A-game," Wiltjer said. Wiltjer, who compares his game to Ryan Anderson, plans to work out with the Sixers.
10. Prospects got out and ran during their measurements. Weber State power forward Joel Bolomboy, who plans to work out for the Sixers, topped the lane agility drill at 10.26 seconds. This drill measures the speed at which a player moves around cones in the key with sprinting, shuffling and backpedaling. Virginia shooting guard Malcolm Brogdon led the shuttle run, which tracks speed changing directions, at 2.64 seconds.
