NBA draft: Phoenix Suns intrigued by versatile SMU forward Semi Ojeleye

The NBA has changed. The back-to-the-basket center still has its place, but more teams are expecting their big men to step out and shoot the 3-point shot. At the same time, they want forwards capable of guarding multiple positions.

It’s called position-less basketball, and the crop of draft prospects who worked out for the Suns on Tuesday illustrated both the advantages and challenges associated with such philosophical shifts.

SMU forward Semi Ojeleye (pronounced OH-ju-lay), North Carolina center Kennedy Meeks, Vanderbilt center Luke Kornet and Texas center Jarrett Allen were among the seven working out for the Suns. Except for Allen, all are considered candidates for Phoenix’s second-round picks. In addition to the No. 4 selection in the June 22 draft, the Suns hold the 32nd and 54th overall selections.

“It’s intriguing because the way the league is going, it seems like positional versatility is something that’s very valued because a traditional (power forward) is a little bit different now,” Suns Assistant General Manager Pat Connelly said after the workout. “Everybody kind of plays different positions and it’s kind of more who you can guard.”

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That’s what makes Ojeleye intriguing. The 6-7, 241-pound junior – who’s built like an NFL tight end – has traveled a long road.

A top 50 national high school recruit, he spent his first two seasons at Duke, but didn’t play a lot. In 2014, he transferred to SMU midseason, where he had to sit out one year because of NCAA transfer rules. With SMU on probation and ineligible for postseason play, then-coach Larry Brown convinced Ojeleye to sit out the 2015-16 season rather than come back midseason.

The bad side of this: Ojeleye didn’t play a college game for nearly two years. The good: It provided time to mature, develop and build confidence. This season, Ojeleye was the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, averaging 18.9 points and 6.8 rebounds. He not only showed explosiveness, but also shooting touch, hitting 42.4 percent from 3-point range.

Perhaps more important for his NBA future, he showcased the quickness and mobility to guard on the perimeter and the muscle and toughness to defend in the post.  

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“They say if you can guard it, you can play it,” said Ojeleye, pointing out that Golden State’s Draymond Green sets the standard for such defensive versatility. “I feel comfortable guarding on the wing or in the post.”

While Ojeleye showed off his lateral quickness, big men Meeks, Kornet and Allen wanted to show off their shooting touch, something that separates the college and pro games. For Kornet, this isn't a problem. During four seasons at Vanderbilt, the 7-1 center actually shot more 3s (469 to 449) than 2s.  But for traditional big men Meeks and Allen, it’s a challenge.

In four college seasons, Meeks (6-10, 270 pounds) attempted just two 3-pointers. Asked what North Carolina coach Roy Williams would do if he made launching 3s a habit, Meeks responded, “If it went in, he wouldn’t say anything. But if I missed it, I’d probably come out (within) the next couple possessions.”

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Even so, Meeks understands the importance and has made shooting a priority.

“That’s just part of the game I have to work on,” said Meeks, who last season averaged 12.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. “I think I’m capable of doing it. I did it in high school pretty good. The game has evolved, but it doesn’t bother me at all.”

Allen (6-11, 235) shot seven 3s last season. He didn’t make one. On Tuesday, the Suns worked out the Texas center by himself. It was the freshman's first workout and he was tired and nervous, which kept him from shooting better than he would've liked. At the same time, Connelly was impressed.

“Jarrett didn’t shoot a ton of 3s at Texas but he shot them today and his shot was OK," he said. “You can see he’s worked on it and it’s not just the last two months. Over the course of developing, he’s taken some time to go out there and see how he does.”

Notes

• Michigan guard Zak Irvin, Kansas State forward Wesley Iwundu and Florida forward Devin Robinson also worked out Tuesday. The 6-7 Iwundu is attractive because he can guard all three perimeter positions. “Having a guy you can throw out there and give your coach a million different options, they’re kind of like a jack-of-trades,” Connelly said. 
• For Kornet, this was a homecoming of sorts. He lived in the Valley during his elementary-school years while his mother worked as a news anchor at ABC 15. Kornet was a Steve Nash fan and attended several Suns games. "I've been in that practice gym before actually doing Junior Suns stuff with the YMCA," he said. "I remember I won some 3-point contest when I was like 8 or 9. It's definitely great to be back here."
• The Suns have no scheduled workouts for the rest of the week.

 Contact Doug Haller at 602-444-4949 or at doug.haller@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/DougHaller