Jankovic gets pre-draft workouts with Toronto Raptors
Former University of Hawai’i standout forward Stefan Jankovic went through pre-draft workouts with the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday and Thursday.
Jankovic was one of six players to attend the private workout in front of Raptors’ coaches and officials on Wednesday, and then returned for a second workout on Thursday. Toronto has the ninth and 27th overall picks in the first round of the NBA Draft, which is scheduled for June 23. The Raptors do not have a second-round selection.
CLICK HERE to view a video interview with Jankovic after the workout
Jankovic, who is originally from Serbia but was raised in Mississauga, Canada, was one of two Canadians at Wednesday’s workout. The other was Gonzaga forward Kyle Wiltjer.
Jankovic averaged 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game as a junior for Hawai’i last season, and was named the Big West Conference Player of the Year. He opted to forgo his senior season, and declared for early entry into the NBA Draft.
Here are some excerpts from www.raptorsrepublic.com about Thursday’s workout:
I think it’s probably pretty telling that Jankovic was back for a second workout with the Raptors. I know they liked his effort and energy level Wednesday, and it seems they may have kept him around to push Ellenson – not only is Jankovic a high-motor workout, he has the size and range (6-foot-11, 37.8 percent on threes) to challenge some of Ellenson’s weaknesses and compare his strengths in a workout setting. That doesn’t mean Jankovic is on the draft radar – DX ranks him 79th just among juniors, and it remains a little strange he left Hawaii a year early – but as Dan Tolzman confirmed Wednesday, this process is also about finding potential summer league and D-League players (and just generally gathering information on as many players as possible). Jankovic will probably have international offers, but maybe he’s on the Raptors 905 radar if not.
In any case, he was thrilled to be asked in for his hometown team.
“Definitely. The fact, them bringing me in, is huge for me. I haven’t been home since August,” Jankovic said. “To see my parents, see my family, probably see my friends the next couple of days, it’s huge for me. I used to go to Raptors games, when VC was here, back in those days, when I was a little kid playing OBA.”
CLICK HERE to read the complete article from www.raptorsrepublic.com
CLICK HERE to read about Wednesday’s workout from www.raptorsrepublic.com
Alright !!
Go get em’ Janks !!
Janks is likely the most talented player to play for UH since AC Carter. There’s been great ones in between like Savo, English, etc…but he’s the only other POY since AC and the best draft prospect. Hope h can improve his strength and quickness cause he has everything else. Go get um Janks and make us proud!!
I think he was in a workout today with Ellenson of Marquette.
https://twitter.com/Raptors
Fotu will make the NBA before Janks. Recent articles I have seen suggest he is high on the list for an invite to the NBA and rightly so. How soon we forge what an awesome player he was and would have been if he had stayed and played at UH. He now has the 3 point shot and is playing with one of the best teams in Europe.
I’m Glad FOTU’S NZ Teammate, Steven Adams (OKC) has become/ is A Fast-Emerging DOMINANT BIG Man in NBA,
Already drawing discussions, comparisons to (5-Time NBA Champ) Shaquille except people note, Adams works Harder (EX: Free-Throws, Moves, Shooting) AND IS Already TOUGHER …
ONE DAY FOTU May Be Drawing Comparisons to Other 6-8 Greats…
BUT He’s Probably Already Quicker than Most…
Hope BOTH FOTU And JANKOVIC Have Long NBA Careers…
Next Up: ?Purchase? Has International HALL-of-FAME Family Genes…
Smarts And Work Ethic…
Fotu shot 25.5% from three on under two attempts per game last season and his team (CAI Zaragoza) finished 12th out of 18 teams in Liga Endesa–as much as I love his game and wish he was able to finish his career at UH, saying he has a three point shot and plays for one of the best teams in Europe are both stretches.
Both he and Janks are probably longshots to make the NBA, but I think Janks is closer given that he is currently working out for NBA teams and given the exposure he got playing against Cal and Maryland in this year’s NCAA tournament. Plus he is a better outside shooter and can fill the role of stretch-4 in the small-ball offenses that a lot of NBA teams are running these days.
zombie: That’s a fair, cogent assessment of the two. In totality, there are so few positions in the NBA, and each year there are dozens of candidates trying to fill what’s available.
We hope the best for Fotu and Janks, but know that both could carve out long and prosperous careers playing overseas.
It’s official: UH announces Johnson’s signing. One scholarship left?