NBA draft 2018: Jock Landale, Deng Adel top US scouts’ list of Aussie hopefuls

WHILE there is little hype about this year’s potential Australian NBA draft class, word out of the US has a pair of Down Under talents firming as potential second-round picks. NBA SCOUTS RATE OUR DRAFT HOPEFULS

WHILE there is little hype about this year’s potential Australian NBA draft class, word out of the US has Geelong native Jock Landale and Melbourne’s Deng Adel firming as potential second-round picks.

Some scouts believe no Aussie will be selected in the draft — on Friday, June 22, from 9am — which would leave the likes of Landale, Deng and Ballarat’s Xavier Cooks forced to impress clubs through workouts and Summer League in the hopes of tacking onto a roster.

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The Aussie chances suffer from the depth of talent available in this year’s draft, with a number of would-be No.1 picks and up to 10 potential franchise changers, headlined by the likes of European star Luka Doncic and big men DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III and Mo Bamba.

But both Landale and Adel — who fled war-torn Sudan as a youngster — have their fans among talent watchers and could convince a team to take a chance on them.

Geelong’s Jock Landale looms as one of the only Aussie NBA draft chances. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

JOCK LANDALE

Age: 22

From: Geelong

College: St Mary’s

Landale, a 211cm giant who played four seasons at St Mary’s — the same college as Matthew Dellavedova and Patty Mills — is an old fashioned big man.

The 22-year-old is a basketball purists dream who could struggle to find a place in today’s NBA due to a lack of athleticism that will hamper his defensive ability.

“His footwork’s off the chart, he’s got NBA passing skills, NBA toughness,” a scout told the Herald Sun.

“The thing that he’s got to be better on is showing people he can make the three, because that’s become our game now.

“He’s also got to be more of a consistent mid-range pop shooter but basketball IQ, off the charts, toughness off the charts, he checks a lot of boxes that I feel will get him in the second round.

🎥 Saint Mary's big man Jock Landale talks about his workout, and what he hopes to bring to the NBA pic.twitter.com/GiM7JFUn5F

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 21, 2018

“If somehow he does go undrafted, he’s going to be a guy that someone’s going to pick up for Summer League and I think he’s going to find his way, possibly to a two-way contract.”

A scout told the Herald Sun Landale’s hopes could go either way.

“He doesn’t have a lot of hops in terms of athleticism and jumping up over the rim, but he’s a smart player, he knows how to play off the low block — especially the left block — and knows how to get to his shot, sets good screens, rolls hard and has good hands,” a scout said of the Gaels’ star.

“I’ve been watching him for the last few years at St Mary’s and he really changed his body.

“I could see him being drafted in the back half of the second round and then again I could see him not being drafted and play on a Summer League team in Las Vegas or ending up somewhere in Europe.”

Deng Adel’s athleticism could attract an NBA club. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

DENG ADEL

Age: 22

From: Sudan/Melbourne

College: Louisville

One scout said Adel, 22, had the defensive tools to stick in the league, if given the chance.

“He’s what the league is looking for, he’s long, athletic, he’s a slasher driver type, I think his weakness is probably his three-point shooting,” the scout said of the forward.

“If Deng improves that I see him as a mid-late second round pick and because of his defensive ability and his driving slashing he’s going to have a good chance to stick with a team if the right team picks him.

“His track record at Louisville is good, picking up energy guy, I think he’s going to be OK.”

A scout said 201cm Adel, would need to grasp any opportunity to show he can make the NBA three consistently.

“He’s a very active player, very bouncy, runs the floor quickly, has a good frame for a wing in the NBA, but his thing will be whether he can show people that he can shoot it from distance consistently,” a scout said.

“If he can do that, then putting it on the floor and getting to the rim off the dribble that would be enhanced by his ability to get guys to come out and honour his jumpshot.

Deng Adel. Oh my. pic.twitter.com/NiwOrXiMv4

— Mike Rutherford (@CardChronicle) February 23, 2017

“Guys like him, they usually only get a few chances to show they can do it, for the coach either to have confidence in them or to say, ‘yeah, I don’t know if this his going to work out’.

Deng was not high on one scout’s draft board.

“I’ve seen Deng quite a bit,” a scout said.

“He’s a tough one, because he doesn’t have a good feel for the game and he’s an inconsistent

“I always walk out of games thinking geez, I just want more from him.”

“I wouldn’t draft him, but I could see him maybe getting a two-way.”

Xavier Cooks will be hoping an NBA club takes a chance on his “unique” talents. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

XAVIER COOKS

Age: 22

From: Ballarat

College: Winthrop

Cooks — the son of Hawks NBL assistant Eric Cooks — is said to have rejected big money deals from at least one NBL club to chase his NBA dream.

“I know he’s had some pretty big offers from NBL clubs already, but I think he’s holding out for Summer League and maybe options overseas,” a source told the Herald Sun.

A scout said the Winthrop swingman was “unique”.

“He’s got a very high basketball IQ, you can tell he comes from a basketball family,” a scout said of the 22-year-old.

“He understands the game and makes good decisions but his shot is unorthodox, he struggles with that.

“He’s a great, great kid, what a joy to talk to. There’s a lot of good things you like about him but he’s probably going to go undrafted.

“Hopefully he can stick and maybe get into a Summer League team, but I think he’s more European-bound or NBL.”

Emmett Naar has worked out for a number of NBA clubs. Picture: Getty Images

EMMETT NAAR

Age: 23

From: Sydney

College: St Mary’s

Sydney’s Emmett Naar — Landale’s teammate at St Mary’s — plays hard, but has a contract with the Illawarra Hawks to fall back on.

“He’s a hard-nosed kid and is smart,” a scout said of the 23-year-old.

“He has a good feel for being able to get into seams off the pick n roll and then finding guys on the wings or has a nice soft pocket pass for big guys who may be crossing the baseline when he gets in the lane.

“He’s a sporadic outside shooter, but he’s a nice player, although I don’t know if he’s going to make an NBA team.

William McDowell-White worked out for NBA clubs, but decided to stay in Germany. Picture: Mark Evans

WILLIAM MCDOWELL-WHITE

Age: 20

From: Brisbane

Club: Brose Bamberg (Germany)

A scout said he’d keep watch on guard William McDowell-White — the son of Brisbane triple AFL premier Darryl White who last week decided not to enter the draft.

The 20-year-old will continue playing professionally in Germany.

“For him it was just a testing process,” one scout said.

“He’s a good-sized point guard who has a good feel for the game and can make plays off the bounce playing out of the pick ‘n’ roll.

“But his shot has always been his nemesis.

“He’s always been able to get to his spots and get into the paint and he can find guys, but he just doesn’t shoot it well enough yet.”

A scout expected McDowell-White to get another NBA chance.

“He’s talented and he’s got a couple more years when he could be drafted, but he needs to go back and have a couple more years in Germany at Bamberg and improve,” a scout said.

Brisbane triple premiership player Darryl White in 2001 with then-fiance Bianca McDowell and their children Jessica, 1, Darryl Jnr, 4, (back), and William, 3, in Darwin.