Former KU point guard Aaron Miles has worked out for 13 different NBA teams. He may be picked up in the second round of the NBA draft.
Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self wasn’t the only Jayhawk lending moral support to Aaron Miles and Keith Langford at last week’s NBA predraft camp in Chicago.
Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls, who, like Miles, is represented by Octagon sports management company, watched his former teammates – both possible second-round picks in the June 28 draft.
“Kirk was out there. We took Aaron out to dinner one night, and he’s with Keith and Aaron tonight (in Chicago),” Chris Emens, agent for both Miles and Hinrich, said Saturday. “Kirk will do anything he can to support them.”
Indeed. Hinrich, who has been a smash hit in the pros the past two seasons, has provided words of wisdom to his former teammates.
“I talk to Kirk once every three weeks,” said Miles, who Emens said measured in at 6-foot-1 in shoes in Chicago, his listed height at KU the past four years. “He (Hinrich) tells me to play hard, get in the best shape of my life and give it my all.”
Added Emens: “From talking to teams and players and Aaron himself, all the feedback I got was outstanding. He plays great defense, has a great feel for the game, controls the tempo. They’d like for him to be more aggressive with his shot. Points-wise, he didn’t do a whole lot (scoring 10 in three games in Chicago). At the same time, he averaged 9.6 points at Kansas playing 40 minutes a game.
“I think one thing that’s helped Aaron, it seems the more coaches and teams spend with him, they start to get more a feel for the intangibles he brings. Nobody in the country runs a team better than Aaron,” Emens added.
So far, the so-called experts aren’t enthusiastic about the chances of Miles or Langford getting drafted.
Draftcity.com appeared to be the only Web site listing either Miles or Langford as a second-round pick. Draftcity says Miles will be selected 57th overall by Phoenix. Langford is not listed in any mock drafts. ESPN.com’s Chad Ford says Langford measured in at 6-3 in shoes in Chicago, an inch shorter than his listed height at KU.
“You can make a case whether it’s in your best interest to be drafted in the second round or not at all,” Emens said. “The advantage to you in not getting drafted is you are able to pick the best team, the best fit. At the same time, if you are drafted, they are making a commitment of time and effort to you.
“On a personal level, I’d like Aaron to get recognition for his success the last four years.”
Of his chances, Langford recently said: “My agent says a lot (of scouts) are saying second round, a couple of teams have high interest from as far back as a couple of years ago. A lot of people want to see I have no lasting injuries. It looks pretty bright.”
¢ Camp speaker: Self, whose first of two basketball camps will be held this week in Lawrence gyms, Friday was a guest speaker at Northern State basketball coach Don Meyer’s basketball clinic in Aberdeen, S.D.
“He’s a legend. I’ve known of him for many, many years since I got into coaching,” Self told the Aberdeen News. “I was really honored that he thought enough of me to invite me out here to the academy.”
Self was asked if he’d recruit South Dakota high schoolers.
“I think what we’ll try to do is recruit where we feel like we’ll have a chance to get guys that are good enough nationally,” Self said. “If there’s players up here, we hope to know about them, and we’re certainly going to do everything we can to see them play a lot. If you’ve got any 7-footers coming up, I promise you we’ll make the trip out here.”
