Mountain West Conference WiretapMay 2011 Mountain West Conference Wiretap

Leonard Compares Himself To Worthy

May 31, 2011 10:10 AM

Kawhi Leonard is one of 30 potential draft prospects -- including Maryland sophomore Jordan Williams – training in Las Vegas with Joe Abunassar at Impact Basketball.

He has been working hard on improving his ballhandling and his jumper by finding the proper balance on his release and landing.

“I want to do a lot of things on the court. I just want to be a complete basketball player. Dribble, pass, shoot, be a leader, play defense, block shots, steals. I’m trying to do it all,” Leonard said. “I think my comparison would be like to one of the throwback type of players. James Worthy, versatile, could do a lot of stuff on the court.”

Michael Lee/Washington Post

Tags: Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State Aztecs, Mountain West Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Fredette Intrigued By Knicks' Style Of Play

May 20, 2011 10:23 AM

Jimmer Fredette, the BYU 6-foot-1 sharpshooting point guard, told The Post at yesterday's pre-draft camp here he has agreed to work out for the Knicks in Westchester on June 2.

"It's a team that's definitely intriguing especially with their style of play," Fredette said yesterday. "Being able to get up and down the court, that's what we did at BYU. That's how I feel comfortable playing. Obviously, being from New York and liking the Knicks growing up, we'll see."

Can Fredette fall to 17 or would the Knicks have to trade up a few notches? Because of Fredette's alleged defensive shortcomings and questions on whether he is a floor general, Fredette could slip despite his blistering 28.9 scoring average.

"My expectations are trying to be able to get into the right fit for me," Fredette said. "I don't necessary care how high I get picked. I just want to get picked in the right situation. That's the longevity of your career. If you get picked in the right spot, you have a great system you flourish in, the next contract is what you worry about. You just have to get in the right situation, show you can play well and go from there."

Marc Berman/New York Post

Tags: Jimmer Fredette, New York Knicks, Brigham Young Cougars, Mountain West Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Kawhi Leonard Signs With Agent, Will Remain In Draft

May 6, 2011 10:56 PM

Kawhi Leonard signed with Brian Elfus of Impact Sports Management, a firm that is well entrenched in the NFL and is beginning to grow its client base in basketball.

Its biggest basketball name is Charlotte Bobcats forward Tyrus Thomas, in his fifth NBA season after leaving Louisiana State following his freshman year.

SDSU coach Steve Fisher said he was consulted in the process and approved of the decision.

“I’ve known (Elfus) for a long time,” Fisher said. “Kawhi had three or four finalists that the family interviewed, and I felt none of them would be a bad choice. They did a good job.”

Mark Zeigler/San Diego Union-Tribune

Tags: Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State Aztecs, Mountain West Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft Declarations

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Stacy Augmon Joins UNLV Staff

May 4, 2011 6:19 PM

Stacey Augmon, a 15-year NBA veteran who spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets, is returning to college basketball to accept a position on the staff of new UNLV Rebels coach Dave Rice.

Augmon was a starting forward for UNLV's 1990 NCAA championship team. He was considered the defensive star of the Rebels and was a three-time winner of the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ defensive player of the year award.

Augmon became a player development coach for the Nuggets after playing for, among others, the Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic.

Mike DeCourcy/Sporting News

Tags: Denver Nuggets, UNLV Runnin' Rebels, Mountain West Conference, NCAA, NBA

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Fredette Signs With Octagon

May 3, 2011 7:30 PM

Brigham Young University star and consensus national college player of the year Jimmer Fredette has agreed to sign with Octagon to be his agent in the NBA, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Octagon agents Jeff Austin and Chris Emens will represent Fredette.

 As a BYU senior, Fredette became a national phenomenon with the one-name recognition of simply: Jimmer. His 28.9 points-per-game average and penchant for long-range shooting – including 40- and 50-point performances – helped lead BYU to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Jimmer Fredette, Brigham Young Cougars, Mountain West Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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