June 12, 2007

Smith stands tall as draft prospect

By Mike McGraw

If nothing else, the Bulls have done a good job of matching draft prospects with similar competition.

On Monday at the Berto Center, they had Florida State’s 6-foot-7 Al Thornton against Florida’s 6-8 Corey Brewer, along with Colorado State’s 7-0 Jason Smith against Duke’s 6-10 Josh McRoberts.

Last week, the Bulls hosted centers Joakim Noah and Spencer Hawes on the same day.

Thornton and Brewer went against each other for the third straight workout. They had previously met up in Boston and Sacramento.

“I’m getting tired of him,” Thornton joked. “But I know Corey’s going to bring it. It’s competition. I love it.”

All four of Monday’s prospects are longshots to be chosen by the Bulls with the ninth pick of the June 28 NBA draft, but Smith is someone who could merit extra attention.

Smith, who averaged 16.8 points and 10.1 rebounds during his junior season at Colorado State, is considered a developing talent. But he opened some eyes during physical tests at the Orlando predraft camp.

Smith’s vertical leap was measured at 37¨ inches, outstanding for a player his size. He jumped higher than Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Brandan Wright or Al Horford.

Smith resembles Indiana’s Jeff Foster, but appears to have better offensive skills. Foster used his quickness to become one of the league’s most efficient rebounders.

“With my work ethic and how skilled I am, I think it’s definitely possible for me to work my way up (in the draft),” Smith said. “The Bulls have the No. 9 pick and I’d be really excited to come to the Bulls. They’re up and coming.”

Smith, a native of Kersey, Colo., was recruited by Gonzaga and Utah, but said he surprised himself during his freshman year at Colorado State.

“Coming into college, I wasn’t really focused on basketball,” he said. “I was more of an academic person and worried about staying in college and getting a degree. After my freshman year, it really switched around and I really focused more on basketball.”

Thornton flying high: Al Thornton flew mostly under the radar at Florida State, but some believe he could be one of the top 10 picks in the draft.

At the Orlando predraft camp, the 6-7 Thornton turned in a 41-inch vertical leap, which tied Cal State-Fullerton guard Bobby Brown for top honors. In comparison, Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas’ vertical leap was measured at 39 ¨ inches last year.

“I came to Florida State basically as an athlete,” Thornton said. “I probably should have ran track. But I decided to play basketball and it was a challenge for me. I was a late bloomer. Around my 12th grade year, I started getting a lot of attention.”

Workouts wrapping up: The Bulls have met with most of the top draft prospects, though one player they don’t have scheduled yet is Kansas forward Julian Wright, a Chicago-area native and product of Homewood-Flossmoor High School.

The consensus top four in the draft — Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Brandan Wright and Al Horford — are not expected to visit the Berto Center. The Bulls traveled last week to visit Georgetown’s Jeff Green in Washington and China’s Yi Jianlian in Los Angeles.