After finishing his college career with a dynamic 31-point performance in a loss to Kentucky, Wichita State's Cleanthony Early is headed to the NBA. Sporting News will speak with Early throughout his 2014 NBA Draft preparations to get a player's perspective on the process.
Sporting News: What was memorable to you about your NBA Draft Combine experience?
Cleanthony Early: I think everything, just the whole process, and that includes meeting the guys, staff members from every organization and just going out there and competing and knowing those eyes are on you. The interview process. It was all a fun and great experience just to be a part of.
SN: Is it frustrating when you go, work out and do the drills, but some of the other top guys who are higher in mock drafts don't participate and you don't get the opportunity to play alongside them?
CE: No, because I played alongside those guys in other areas, and I'll continue to play along those guys. They're in a different situation where they can sit out and do those things, and I feel a little different about my situation.
SN: How many teams did you have sit-down interviews with at the Combine? What is that process like for a player?
CE: I sat down with about 15, 16 teams. It was pretty cool, because they all were different and asked different questions. They're all interested in you in different ways and some people did ther research and know you a little bit, and some are trying to get to know you. They were asking you on-the-spot questions about your past, and things you possibly got involved with. What type of person you are, what do you believe. What is your foundation? What keeps you together? They want to learn how much you love the sport. There are different ways to try to get a feel for a person just in every day life through conversation. They did some psychological tests they do, like those Internet games that are pretty interesting, pretty fun.You've just got to be who you are. Sometimes I think who I am really prepared me for these situations, so I was comfortable. I had fun with the whole process.
SN: Did anyone ask you any strange questions in the process of meeting with that many teams?
CE: There were questions where they try to see how you process things, some of the questions they ask you — like "How many pennies are in a million dollars?" — they want to know how you react to that. If you know the answer, if you don't know the answer, if you're going to try be a problem solver to figure out the answer right there. It just depends on the kind of person you are, you're going to do certain things in certain environments. It's how you react. ... "If you had a pencil in a jar or jug of water, how do you get it out?" "How big is a basketball?" or "How many F's are in this sentence?" A lot of these things, a lot of guys get them wrong, so it's impressive when you get them right. I think I handled those situations pretty much on point. It's as big as the whole on-the-court thing, because they know a lot of guys have talent. We all have talent. It's very mental on this level, too.
"He convinced NBA teams he can come in and be an NBA 3." — Chad Ford pic.twitter.com/fG1mBvbTAj
SN: What kind of feedback, on the court, did you get from teams?
CE: It was positive. Stuff you kind of already know, but it's always refreshing to hear from people at those levels. Continue to play good defense, convince people that I can play the 3 position and that I can think like a 3 and I can make those decisions. Continue to knock down that open jump shot and be competitive and bring that energy and that spirit, positive and optimistic. Being a team guy. Becoming a professional, if you're ready for that. It's obviously not in the same category as some other guys who you know are guaranteed or could sit out, it's a totally different grind and process for me than some other guys that you start embracing and adapting to. And once you do that, you'll be fine.
SN: What about the lottery? Did you watch Tuesday night? Does it even matter to you?
CE: It's cool to see, and see how things might go, based off the numbers and where people say you're projected to go, so it's interesting to see how things possibly could be, but it really doesn't matter.
SN: When do you start visiting teams? Do you have anything scheduled?
CE: I already worked out with the Cavs. I've got a couple of other workouts that I have lined up. Miami coming soon, I'm pretty sure I have a couple left. I'm pretty sure I'll be at Oklahoma (City), I'll be with the Bobcats (now Hornets), I'll be with Boston, and we just have to keep preparing for this opportunity. We already know, pretty much, what we're going to get with basketball. We're going to condition, we're going to compete, we're going to do drills. We're going to get shots, shooting drills, and they'll record every single shot down.
SN: On your personal training, where are you working out, and who is working with you?
CE: I'm working out in Florida (at ELEV8 Sports Institute) with Casey Prather, Scottie Wilbekin, Joe Jackson from Memphis, a couple of other guys, Johnny O'Bryant.
"Ready for Chicago #1stRnd #Elev8YourGame @Elev8SI pic.twitter.com/Jt1Aodauf0 — Brett Newman (@coachbnew)