One of Trey Thompkins’ best traits — besides his 6-foot-9 frame and exceptional shooting touch — is his honesty. And that was on display as he discussed Thursday’s NBA draft.
The former Georgia Bulldogs forward by way of Lithonia is not trying to put on a tough face as he prepares for the most important moment of his young life. He’s more than a little anxious as he waits to see when he’ll be selected and with whom he’ll begin his professional basketball career.
“It’s really a blessing, and I thank God for the opportunity he’s given me,” Thompkins said in a telephone interview this week. “But I’m nervous. I’m a train wreck right now. I’ve done everything I can do physically. Now it’s just time to wait, and hopefully a team shows a lot of interest in me.”
Thompkins is one of two UGA underclassmen awaiting an call Thursday night. High-flying guard Travis Leslie of Decatur also made the early leap into the draft.
Both players find themselves projected to go somewhere between the late first- and early-second rounds. Being among the 30 first-round picks is critical because those contracts are guaranteed multi-year deals (at least two years with an option for three or four). There are no financial guarantees after that.
“I think they’re both bubble first-rounders,” said Chad Ford, draft analyst for espn.com. “Thompkins is very skilled and brings a lot to the table. I think NBA teams have been turned off by his lack of conditioning. He’s not worked out particularly well, and there are questions of how prepared he has been for the workouts. ...
“Travis Leslie may be one of the two or three best athletes in this draft. The question is, is he more than just an athlete? Will he learn how to shoot the ball? Will he bring other things to the table besides his incredible athleticism and his ability to finish at the basket? We know he can do that, but can he do anything else?”
Such cynical commentary is common before the draft. Soon after the combine it was reported that Thompkins measured to have 15.5 percent body fat, highest among this year’s draft candidates. Almost immediately his stock dropped as analysts wrote about concerns over his conditioning and ability to stay healthy.
“It’s part of the process,” Thompkins said. “It’s something I’ve embraced, and it’s something that has driven me to keep working hard and keep proving myself.”
One thing nobody has criticized is Thompkins’ offensive abilities. His knack for scoring in the low post or popping outside to hit mid- to long-range jump shots helped him average 17 points and eight rebounds the past two seasons.
“I think when it starts out, just like when you go to college, they’re looking to eliminate people,” UGA coach Mark Fox said. “But the longer you can stay on their lists, the greater chance you have of contributing. And some things are correctable, like your conditioning. Trey has legitimate power-forward size, and he’s got offensive skill.”
Leslie is a little more problematic. Though he’s 6-4 (in shoes), he spent most of his time at UGA playing a small-forward/wing position. So while he averaged 14 points and seven rebounds and wowed fans with his highlight-reel dunks, in the NBA he’ll be asked to be play shooting guard. That means he must be able to score from the outside and defend the likes of Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade.
The past couple of months have been a whirlwind of travel and workouts for Thompkins and Leslie. Each has traveled across the United States to audition for prospective employers. Since the NBA combine in mid-May, Thompkins said has visited 11 teams in 11 cities.
“It was good. It was fun,” said Thompkins, who will watch the draft at home with his family. “It was straining, but that’s part of the process.”
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