Hornets Draft Workouts: Day 2

By: Nick O’Hayre, Hornets.com
Hornets.com’s Nick O’Hayre chatted Wednesday with Hornets draft workout participants Mark Tyndale, Lester Hudson, Patrick Ewing Jr. and Keith Brumbaugh. For more from potential first-round pick Wayne Ellington of North Carolina, as well as Xavier (Ohio) forward Josh Duncan, visit Hornets.com’s Audio Archives for exclusive interviews with both players. Also check out our chat with Chris Paul, who was on hand for the workouts in the New Orleans Arena:

MARK TYNDALE, Temple
Q: What do you know about the Hornets and what would draw you to wanting to be drafted here?
A: They’ve got the best point guard in the game in Chris Paul. I think they are very well coached by Byron Scott. They run a fun offense, a lot of pick and rolls. Plus, it’s a beautiful city, a great city.

Q: What NBA player would you compare your skills to?
A: Actually, it’s two guys who aren’t in the NBA anymore, Doug Christie or Scottie Pippen. Somebody like those two guys, somebody who does a lot of things, plays defense, brings the ball up and shoot a little bit. That’s my number one goal, to play well on the defensive end and let my offense come.

Q: What areas of your game are you trying to improve on or prove to scouts that you have certain skills they may not be aware of?
A: I just want to show them how hard I work, that’s all. I’m not trying to come in here and impress anybody, I’m just coming in and playing basketball and do what I do. Just play tough and hard-nosed. A lot of people didn’t see me because we weren’t on national television often, so I just want to show and prove myself, try and get in the back door any way I can.

Q: Who is your draft sleeper, a guy who is not getting much publicity right now but has a chance to be a very solid player in the NBA?
A: Me. That’s it.

LESTER HUDSON, Tennessee-Martin
Q: Which players do you compare yourself to in the NBA in terms of your style of play?
A: I would probably say Baron Davis. A scoring point guard who can rebound, get teammates open looks and do it all.

Q: What do you know about the Hornets and what would make you want to play for this team?
A: It would be a great opportunity for me to learn from Chris Paul, he’s the best point guard in the league. I’m trying to become one of the good up-and-coming point guards, so it would be a real good opportunity.

Q: What areas of your game are you trying to improve or prove to scouts that they aren’t weaknesses?
A: Well I want to prove that I’m an all-around player and that I can play on the next level and be a point guard, a scoring point guard.

KEITH BRUMBAUGH, Hillsborough (Fla.) Community College
Q: Which players do you compare yourself to in the NBA in terms of your style of play?
A: I’d probably have to play it safe and say Tayshaun Prince. That is one thing I want to show, that I can play defense. Coming from junior college, I think people may doubt that a little. And a lot of times (in junior college) you may lax off a little when you’re scoring a bunch of points and stuff, but out here you get exposed if you aren’t playing defense and I just want to show that I can play D.

Q: What do you know about the Hornets?
A: I like New Orleans a lot. Especially after going through this workout, I really like Coach (Byron) Scott and I really like the feel out here. I’ve played some AAU tournaments in New Orleans, but never like this!

Q: What areas of your game are you trying to improve or prove to scouts that they aren’t weaknesses?
A: I’m not sure. I’m just trying to show I can go hard, that I can compete with whoever. That I can stay up with everything, show my shooting skills and show I can play multiple positions.

PATRICK EWING JR., Georgetown
Q: Which players do you compare yourself to in the NBA in terms of your style of play?
A: I feel like I can bring a lot of defense, energy and rebounding. I just try to make things on the court happen. It doesn’t have to be scoring points or anything like that. So a lot of people tell me Bruce Bowen because he plays D, is a long and athletic guy. But I don’t want to be the next Bruce Bowen; I just want to be the first me so I don’t really compare myself to anybody.

Q: What do you know about the Hornets?
A: They’re a great team, they are up and coming. They just won their first division title in franchise history and they should have gone to the Western Conference finals at least, it was just a tough last two games. They’ve got to two All-Stars in Chris Paul and David West and Tyson Chandler is really starting to show himself and be what people thought he could be when he came out of high school. Everybody on the team knows their role, and they are stepping up big time. I think they are going to continue to be very successful.

Q: What areas of your game are you trying to improve or prove to scouts that they aren’t weaknesses?
A: I don’t really want to try to prove or show off anything. I just want to continue to be consistent and keep doing the things that I’ve been able to do since I got to school. I feel they are looking at me for a reason so I don’t want to go out and try to do too much and try to overexpose myself and then look bad. I would rather just stay consistent in my game and hopefully if I get picked up by a team, then I’ll be able to do more things, learn from the people that are there and develop the way they want to develop me.

Q: Who is your draft sleeper, a guy who is not getting much publicity right now but has a chance to be a very solid player in the NBA?
A: I’m a little biased, so I’m going to go with my point guard, Jon Wallace (of Georgetown). I think he is a great point guard, he’s very consistent and he rarely messes up. I think he will be a sleeper for a team that picks him up and they’ll be very happy with him and his production.