OPTIMISTIC REVIEWS
Cockburn, Minott given good draft chances after NBA Combine
Published:Friday | May 27, 2022 | 12:42 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
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With the National Basketball Association (NBA) combine now completed, Jamaican basketballers Josh Minott and Kofi Cockburn have been given optimistic reviews on their showings and their chances to realise their NBA dreams come next month. Minott...
With the National Basketball Association (NBA) combine now completed, Jamaican basketballers Josh Minott and Kofi Cockburn have been given optimistic reviews on their showings and their chances to realise their NBA dreams come next month.
Minott and Cockburn took part in the week-long combine which concluded on Sunday, giving teams a chance to evaluate their skills before the NBA Draft, which takes place in late June in Brooklyn, New York.
Cockburn, who completed his college career with the University of Illinois at the centre position, was expected to not be drafted, according to many mock drafts. However, in an article by Athletic writers John Hollinger and Sam Vecenie, Cockburn has a chance to be taken in the second round with teams that will be looking for size. Cockburn averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds in his two scrimmage games at the combine, with his best game coming from last Friday’s scrimmage when he posted 19 points and 11 rebounds.
“Cockburn has his limitations as a traditional beast-ball big man, but he had the best per-minute game score of any player to play on both days (of scrimmages),” Vecenie and Hollinger said. “His frame (a rock-solid 7-0 in shoes with a 7-4 wingspan) makes him a relatively safe pick as a backup five. He’ll be in the mix in the second round for teams looking for size.”
In a recent interview with the Chicago Tribune, Cockburn said that the most important thing that he had to display was his defensive ability in a role that now demands proficiency in the mid-range shooting game.
“I figured these guys are going to shoot, I’m going to rebound,” Cockburn said. “No team is going to put me in the star play. I’m going to have to find my role playing defence, talking, bringing positive energy and rebounding.” Cockburn has reportedly been working out at the Atlanta Hawks as he continues his preparations for the draft. Meanwhile, the Florida-born Minott had seven points and six rebounds in his first scrimmage game. Bleacher Reporter writer Jonathan Wasserman ranked him 46 out of the top 50 prospects post the draft, saying that while he has raw talent, he will need time to develop and refine his skill set.
“Minott’s athleticism and activity were evident in Chicago, but so was his lack of skill and polish. He also changed his jump-shot mechanics, and the results were mixed. He’s worth taking for the chance that his off-the-dribble skill and jumper catch his explosiveness, but he’s a G Leaguer until then,” Wasserman said.
American publication Sports Illustrated, in their latest mock draft after the combine, projected him to be selected by the New Orleans Pelicans with the 41st pick, while they have projected Cockburn to be taken with the 57th pick by the Portland Trailblazers.