Some projections have Warsaw native being picked in 1st round
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Dale Hubler-dhubler@timesuniononline.com
Growing up, Miles Plumlee was a fan of the Chicago Bulls. Thursday night, the 23-year-old Warsaw native and recent Duke University graduate will be a fan of whichever team calls his name during the NBA Draft. Coverage of Thursday’s NBA Draft begins at 7 p.m. on ESPN. There are two rounds, with 30 players picked in each round. “The NBA is the highest level of basketball,” Plumlee said in a phone conversation Sunday afternoon. “This is what I’ve worked for all my life. It would be a dream come true to play in the NBA.” Playing for legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils, the 6-foot-11, 255-pound Plumlee was a part of the 2010 national championship team that beat the Butler Bulldogs. Along with the national championship team, Plumlee was a part of two Sweet 16 teams, and in his four years in Durham the Blue Devils were 124-24 overall and 50-17 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. As a senior, Plumlee averaged nearly seven points and seven rebounds per game while playing about 20 minutes per contest. Against conference foe Maryland, Plumlee grabbed 22 rebounds – the most by any player to ever play for Krzyzewski. All that is behind him now, as he prepares to play at the next level. “I feel like I have a lot to offer an NBA team,” said Plumlee. “I think I have a skill-set that would allow me to be successful at the next level.” Some of the so-called experts and NBA Draft analysts have picked on Plumlee for not being more productive in college. He finished with career averages of about five points and five rebounds per game in Duke’s perimeter-oriented attack. As of late, however, NBA scouts have done nothing but praise Plumlee. In the pre-Draft combine in Chicago, Plumlee wowed the crowed with a 40.5-inch vertical jump. At a similar workout in Minnesota, he improved his vertial jump to 41 inches. Scouts have also seen Plumlee’s offensive package, something that wasn’t showcased at Duke. Based on what has been published about Plumlee recently, the scouts certainly like what they’ve seen from the athletic center. A couple months ago, Plumlee was projected as a late second-round pick at best. In an article published on SI.com last week, Plumlee was projected to be the 26th overall pick – going to the Indiana Pacers. “It would be neat to get drafted by the Pacers,” said Plumlee, who worked out in Indianapolis last week. “Having grown up in Indiana, that would be special. It would be close to home. It would be easier for my parents and my family to come see me. I’ll be happy with whichever team gives me a chance. Playing in the NBA would just be a dream come true.” Plumlee said he has worked out for more than a dozen NBA teams, including the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and the recently crowned NBA champion Miami Heat, amongst others. “It gets tiring, it’s a lot of travel, but it’s all worth it,” said Plumlee. “You’re in one city for a workout, and the next day you’re off to a new city. It gets pretty grueling, but yeah, it’s all worth it.” While in a town for a workout, players go through a number of shooting and agility drills, games against other players and personality interviews. “They want to know everything about you,” said Plumlee. “You go through a variety of drills – shooting, running, rebounding, one-on-one, two-on-two, all sorts of things. You also sit down with the GM and other staff members and answer a lot of questions.” Plumlee is represented by Priority Sports of Chicago and agent Mark Bartelstein. The agency also represents Indiana Pacers star Danny Granger.
