NBA Draft Combine: How top prospects measured up

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CHICAGO — The NBA Draft Combine is a curious event. Some of the bigger-name prospects have recently decided to stay away for various reasons. And while the league brought back five-on-five scrimmages to the proceedings for the first time since 2008, participation isn’t mandatory. The NBA combine has, more than anything, morphed into a lab designed to measure its test subjects. If you geek out on anthropometric data, this is your kind of gathering.

What follows is a look at a few of this year’s notable players and the attendant physical measurements. (You can find the full list of anthropometric stats for the current combine crop here.)

Guards

• DeAngelo Russell: The Ohio State guard didn’t do anything to hurt his draft stock during the measurement phase. Russell was 6-foot-3¼ without shoes (6-5 with) and weighed 193.4 pounds. He evidently put on some muscle. His 6-9¾ wingspan was above average for his position. He also had good hand size/width.

• Tyus Jones: Nothing that jumps out at you here with the Duke point guard: Just over 6-feet without shoes and 184.6 pounds. Wingspan of 6-5. Pretty good standing reach (8-1) for the position.

• Devin Booker: So many Kentucky players. Booker was 6-4½ without shoes and 208.5 pounds. Length was OK (6-8¼ wingspan).

• Aaron Harrison: So, so many Kentucky players. Harrison was 6-4½ without shoes, 209.2 pounds. 6-8¼ wingspan.

• Andrew Harrison: So, so, so many ... never mind. In a (not-so) surprising development, this Harrison measured out a lot like the other Harrison: 6-4½ without shoes, 213.2 pounds, 6-9 wingspan.

Wings

• Justise Winslow: He looked great during the NCAA Tournament. Came in at 6-4½ without shoes, 6-10¼ wingspan. Winslow is a chiseled 221.8 pounds. And he is unquestionably one of the most agile players in attendance. His draft position will likely have less to do with measurements than his athleticism.

• Stanley Johnson: The Arizona small forward was 6-5 without shoes. Like Winslow, that’s not great. But, also like Winslow, he’s athletic — and thick. Johnson was 241.8 pounds with just 7.5 percent body fat. He looks like he could rip a phone book in two (if phone books were something that people still kept around).

• Kelly Oubre: He’s not a big kid. The Kansas small forward weighed 202.8 pounds. Definitely needs to put on some muscle. Measured 6-5¾ without shoes. He impressed with his wingspan (7-2¼) and standing reach (8-6½). Both of those were among the best at his position. And compare his wingspan to bigger players like Frank Kaminksy (below). Oubre’s length is a plus.

• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: He’s about the same size as Oubre: 6-5½ without shoes, 210.8 pounds. And, like Oubre, the Arizona product’s wingspan (7-2) and standing reach (8-8) were significant for the position.

Forwards/centers

• Frank Kaminsky: The National Player of the Year is one of the most talked about participants. There are questions about his athleticism and how he projects at the next level. His measurements were pretty much as expected: 6-11¾ without shoes (7-0¾ with) and 231.2 pounds. His 6-11 wingspan wasn’t great.

• Sam Dekker: Kaminsky’s PIC at Wisconsin. Came in at 6-7¾ without shoes and 219.8 pounds. Wingspan of 6-11½.

• Myles Turner: Blocked a lot of shots at Texas. You can see why, given his numbers here: 6-11½ in shoes with a 7-4 wingspan and a standing reach of 9-4. Those were all top tier. Good hand length/width (9¼ inches for both).

• Willie Cauley-Stein: The Kentucky center had the fifth-best standing reach (9-3) of the players measured here. He came in at just under seven feet without shoes and just over seven feet in shoes, while weighing 242 pounds. That’s serious size. He also had a pretty low body-fat percentage of 6.3. (The Sixers almost certainly won’t be interested in him, but that last part would likely make Brett Brown nod in approval.) He had a 7-3 wingspan, which put him in the top tier. He’s a big kid all the way around. Good numbers for a projected rim protector.

• Robert Upshaw: One of the chief curiosities at this year’s combine. There’s no doubting his physical gifts. There’s a lot of doubt about his conduct. He got booted from two different teams in three years: first Fresno State and then Washington. Upshaw is massive: 6-10¾ without shoes (7-0 with) and 258.2 pounds. His standing reach (9-5) and wingspan (7-5½) were the biggest at the combine. His hand length (10 inches) and hand width (11 inches) were also tops. He is a large human in every respect.

• Trey Lyles: Another Kentucky player. He has quality size for a 19-year-old: 6-9 without shoes, 241.2 pounds. Wingspan (7-1½) and standing reach (9-0) were good for a power forward.

• Cliff Alexander: He missed the NCAA Tournament, and there are questions about what position he’ll play in the NBA. For a PF/C, his height (6-7¼ without shoes) was disappointing. On the positive side, he weighed 239.2 pounds and had a 7-3½ wingspan.

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