Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
A New York state high school scoring phenom, Jimmer Fredette returned to his home state on Thursday morning, working out for the New York Knicks, holders of the 17th pick in the first round of the NBA Draft.
*******
You can watch a pair of post-workout interviews with Jimmer by clicking on the "Related Links" to the right.
*******
ESPN's Chad Ford Tweeted the following while reporting on the workout:
"Some very good decisions in 2-on-2 by both Jimmer and (Darius) Morris. They think Jimmer has bball IQ to be a PG in the NBA."
"Sounds like it was (Klay) Thompson-Jimmer that stood out. Both shot the lights out I'm told. No surprise there."
Jimmer himself said he "he shot 20-of-25 on college 3's and 19-of-25 on NBA 3's" for the Knicks today.
The Hoops Report's Ryan Feldman Tweeted:
"Sources at the Knicks workout also said that Marshon Brooks was very good and that Jimmer was solid/did well in spots."
Video Courtesy of KSL.com
Feldman and Ford both report Jimmer will work out with Kemba Walker in a workout with the Sacramento Kings (7th pick) next week. In addition to the Pacers (15th) and Knicks (both workouts completed), Jimmer has previously listed the Kings, Jazz (3rd/12th) and Suns (13th) as tams with which he plans to work out.
*******
Both the New York Post (linked above) and New York Times think if the Knicks want Fredette, they'll have to trade up, with both writers believing he'll be off the board by the 17th pick.
*******
For his part, Fredette today said "I think I could fit in very well with the Knicks' system, being a run-and-gun type of offense, that's what we played at BYU...I've always played that way."
"I grew up a Knicks fan; watched 'em play on MSG all the time...it would be an unbelievable thing to be able to play here in New York."
"It would be great to play with guys like Amare (Stoudemire) and Carmelo (Anthony)...how skilled they are and how they can score the basketball...your (own) scoring ability would be enhanced because of that."
Fredette said Anthony "stepped in" during today's workout, to join observers such as Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni and GM Donnie Walsh.
*******
Fredette said "I have a couple of teams that I would really like to play for; the Knicks would be one of them, the Jazz would be another one, and the Suns...would be another one. Those three are the three teams I think I would fit in the best with."
*******
The production company chronicling Fredette's journey to the NBA has gone online with a website and YouTube channel; check out daily webisodes at followjimmer.com
*******
