AUBURN, Ala. – It might have looked like just another practice for Auburn basketball on Thursday. The players went through ball-handling drills and shooting drills. They worked on closeouts. They played some five-on-five where it was "best on best."
But it wasn't just another practice. It was Auburn's Pro Day, and the seats on the sideline that are typically empty were filled with 25 NBA scouts watching and evaluating.
"I'm grateful to these guys for coming," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "My staff did a really good job of making the connections. Having Marquis [Daniels] and Ira [Bowman], who spent time in the NBA – we have relationships. We try to make it convenient for these guys. They'll be back.
"To me, it's sort of akin to the day when our [Raymond J. Harbert] College of Business is inviting the big four in and they're interviewing our students to be accountants. That's what we're trying to do here. The NBA is the highest level of basketball. These are the scouts and these are the guys who have the say at the highest level."
It was another opportunity for All-SEC guards Bryce Brown and Jared Harper to make an impression in front of NBA scouts. Both declared early after last season and went through the draft process before ultimately deciding to return to school.
Brown, in particular, wanted to show how much he's improved this offseason.
"I've tried to improve in my shot, my ball handling and my athleticism," the senior guard said. "I'm trying to be a better pick-and-roll ball handler. I want to be able to find guys better, too. That's what I wanted to stand out today. I want to be a better all-around player."
It also opened the door for players like Anfernee McLemore, Chuma Okeke and Samir Doughty to make an impression on NBA scouts. For McLemore, it was his chance to show that he's fully recovered from the injury he suffered last March.
"I feel like I'm one hundred percent physically," McLemore said. "The main part is just getting that confidence back. I need to believe that I'll be able to do everything that I used to do. That's an everyday process just trusting it more and more and being able to put all of my weight when jumping like I used to."
More than anything, though, Thursday's Pro Day showed just how far this Auburn basketball program has come with Pearl at the helm. There was no Pro Day when he first arrived. The last two years, the Tigers have hosted close to 60 NBA scouts at the event.
"It creates an energy, and it creates an excitement." said former coach and ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg, who was in attendance Thursday. "And it also sends a message. Pro day can't be pro day without pros. You're not going to get 25 scouts unless there are some guys here that these organizations are looking at and evaluating.
"Anyone in the country can have pro day. Not everyone in the country can have 25 scouts come and attend a pro day. By this showing of the NBA, it speaks volumes to what's happening and what has happened under Bruce's direction."
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @greg_ostendorf
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