PHOTOS: NBA prospects test athleticism, fundamentals during Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena

Sports, Spring 2024

PHOTOS: NBA prospects test athleticism, fundamentals during Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena

May 30, 2024

By Zoe Grossman

Medill Reports

Top NBA hopefuls from the U.S. and beyond gathered at Wintrust Arena on May 13 to showcase their skills in front of NBA scouts and media.

The NBA Draft Combine, which ran from May 12 to May 19, required all invited players to participate as a final stepping stone for draft eligibility. Players were medically evaluated and measured on metrics such as a vertical jump, shuttle run, lane agility and various shooting drills.

Some of college basketball’s biggest names, including consensus National Player of the Year Zach Edey, put on strong showings ahead of the NBA Draft on June 26 and 27.

Purdue’s Edey attempts the shuttle run drill. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

James prepares for his combine debut. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

Illinois’ Coleman Hawkins warms up before the vertical jump. Initially predicted to be a late second-rounder, Hawkins put on a strong performance that raised the eyebrows of many. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

Duke guard Jared McCain donned white nail polish for the event. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

Trentyn Flowers leaps for a 360-degree dunk. The Baltimore native forewent his college eligibility last year to play for the Adelaide 36ers of Australia’s National Basketball League. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

Indiana’s Kel’el Ware, Edey and projected No. 1 overall pick Alexandre Sarr of France applaud before starting shooting drills. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

Hinsdale, Illinois, native Matas Buzelis shows off his basketball tattoo during the lane agility drill. Buzelis was a top recruit in the 2023 class but elected to instead play for the NBA G League Ignite. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

Arizona’s Pelle Larsson does the three-point shooting drill. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

An organizer explains the rules of the vertical jump to Cameroon national and NBA Academy Africa graduate Ulrich Chomche. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

Pittsburgh guard Carlton Carrington wears two different colored shoes as he participates in a shooting drill. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

California’s Jaylon Tyson does the lane agility drill. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

Kentucky guard and SEC Freshman of the Year Reed Sheppard leaps for the standing vertical drill. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

Marquette’s Tyler Kolek extends for the maximum vertical jump. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

Creighton’s All-American Baylor Scheierman does a shooting drill. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

Colorado power forward Tristan da Silva speaks to coaches before running the lane agility drill. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

Arizona’s Pelle Larsson attacks the rim during a 4-on-4 scrimmage. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

UConn center Donovan Clingan prepares for the maximum vertical jump. The 20-year-old won back-to-back national championships with the Huskies. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

Florida State’s Jamir Watkins, center, and Arkansas’ Trevon Brazile, left, defend Iowa’s Payton Sandfort during a 4-on-4 scrimmage. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

USA Today called Flowers’ performance “stellar.” The 2005-born forward is a projected 2025 first-rounder if he is not selected this year. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

BYU’s Jaxson Robinson and Brazile high-five each other after a scrimmage. (Zoe Grossman/MEDILL)

Zoe Grossman is a graduate journalism student in the sports media specialization at Medill. Follow her on X at zoe__grossman or connect with her on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/zoeggrossman