The Clippers’ basketball staff was back in the gym Thursday morning to evaluate draft prospects.
However, the six players that worked through a myriad of defensive drills, shooting drills and three-on-three play won’t be considered for the team’s lottery pick at seventh overall in next week’s NBA draft.
The group, which included Cal State Fullerton guard Frank Robinson, was at best, regarded as second-round draft prospects. Robinson began his college career at East Carolina, before transferring to Fullerton for his final three years.
“He shoots the ball well and he defends,” Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said, in an abbreviated assessment of Robinson’s skills.
Robinson, who worked out for the Clipper earlier this month at the Home Depot Center in Carson, said that if he were drafted at all, it would be a happy surprise.
“I would say my chances right now are very slim,” Robinson said. ” I didn’t play to my potential until this year, when I came out of my shell. But I feel that through all the workouts that I’ve had, I’ve made a big jump.”
Robinson said he also worked out for the Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings. He also participated in a multi-team workout sessions that had team representatives from the Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat.
Robinson described his play at Cal State Fullerton as inconsistent, until this past season, when he helped lead the Titans to a surprising berth in the NCAA tournament.
Robinson paused to glance at the other five players that the Clippers also invited to Thursday’s workout.
“I know my journey is going to be longer, to get into the league, just like those other guys’,” Robinson said. “But I believe in myself. My goal this summer is to try to get on a summer league team.”
Rounding out the group that worked out Thursday were J.R. Giddens of New Mexico, Deron Washington of Virginia Tech, Sean Singletary of Virginia, JaJuan Smith of Tennessee and Reggie Williams of Virginia Military Institute.
Washington and Smith were selected to the all-tournament team at the Portsmouth Invitational, one of the NBA’s annual pre-draft evaluation camps.
