UConn at the NBA Combine: Notes & Highlights

Andre Jackson and Adama Sanogo participated in scrimmages and raised their draft stock as a result.

The NBA Combine was held this last week in Chicago. Players took official measurements, participated in 5-on-5 scrimmages, and worked on drills testing their speed, shooting, and jumping abilities.

The national champion UConn Huskies were well represented: Jordan Hawkins, Andre Jackson, and Adama Sanogo all earned invitations, while Tristen Newton was in the G League Elite Camp, an adjacent event.

The Missing Piece: Tristen Newton was just what UConn needed

Here’s a look at how each player measured out and performed over the week.

Andre Jackson

• Jackson officially measured 6’5^1/2 without shoes, weighing 198.4 pounds with a 6’9^3/4 wingspan.

• His Max Vertical Leap measured 39.5 inches, ranking 5th among 57 participants.

• Numerous NBA execs showed up to see Jackson perform at the Roc Nation Pro Day during the Combine.

• Over the two scrimmages, Jackson recorded 6 points, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocked shots. He showed flashes of his excellent court vision and ability to disrupt defensively but continued to struggle with shooting.

• Maxwell Baumbach, NBA Draft writer for NoCeilingsNBA said he “would be surprised if he isn’t taken on draft night. 25-45 is his range. His Combine performance wasn’t anything special, but it certainly wasn’t a disaster, either.”

Adama Sanogo

• Measured at 6’7^1/4 with a 7’2^3/4 wingspan, good for 5th largest wingspan at the combine.

• Finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots in his first scrimmage, plus one memorable dunk on teammate Andre Jackson’s head.

• In the second scrimmage, Sanogo finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, this time showing impressive passing skills. Throughout the week Sanogo displayed his high-motor high-energy style of play, consistently making the extra effort on the defensive end.

• Draft expert Jonathan Givony stated he saw Sanogo as “one of the big winners of the week.”

• Sanogo is widely projected as a late 2nd Round pick or undrafted.

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Jordan Hawkins

• Officially measured at 6’4^1/4 without shoes, weighing 186 pounds with a 6’6^3/4 wingspan.

• Widely regarded as a Top-20 pick, Hawkins chose to not participate in the Combine drills or scrimmages.

• Says he models his game after Klay Thompson and Max Strus.

• During media availability, Hawkins informed reporters that he has met with the Thunders, Clippers, Nets, Mavericks, and Lakers. Those teams have picks in the first round ranging from 10th to 21st.

Jordan Hawkins NBA mock draft review

Tristen Newton

• Participated in the G League Combine

• Official measurements: 6’3^1/2 without shoes, weighing 186 pounds with a 6’6^3/4 wingspan

• Newton finished the first scrimmage with 2 points, 4 assists & 5 rebounds; and the second scrimmage with 14 points, 2 assists & 6 rebounds. He showed flashes of his great scoring ability as well as tough defense but struggled to contribute consistently.

• He did not earn a call-up to the NBA Combine.

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While the NBA Combine is the largest and most important pre-draft event, individual and private visits will continue right up until the night of selection on Thursday, June 22.

The NCAA enforces a deadline of May 31st to withdraw from the draft and return to college, so between now and then Jackson, Newton, and Sanogo have a decision to make. It appears likely that all three of them, or at least two, will decide to move on from college.