The NBA held its draft combine from May 12 to 19, showcasing 78 invitees in speed, agility and shooting drills and live scrimmages. Multiple athletes from North Carolina connections participated. The new collective bargaining agreement required all invited players to attend and participate in order to be eligible for the draft.
Players have until May 29 to withdraw from the draft.
Before their names get called from June 26-27, here a quick rundown of how North Carolina’s local athletes performed in this year’s draft combine:
Kyle Filipowski (Duke)
Lane agility: 11.43 seconds; Shuttle run: 2.93 seconds; Three quarter sprint: 3.19 seconds; Max vertical leap: 32.5 inches
2023-24 stats: 16.4 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game, 1.5 blocks per game, 34.8% 3-point percentage
Former Duke star Kyle Filipowski showed decent athleticism, considering his recorded height of 6 feet, 10.75 inches without shoes and weight of 229.8 pounds. He did well in the moving shooting drills, shooting 56% in the three-point star drill which tied with two other power forwards for the fourth-best performance in his position. However, Filipowski didn’t do as well in the spot up shooting drill as he shot just 44%. Filipowski did not participate in the scrimmages. He’s projected to be a mid to late first round pick.
Harrison Ingram (North Carolina)
Lane agility: 11.36 seconds; Shuttle run: 2.94 seconds; Three quarter sprint: 3.17 seconds; Max vertical leap: 35.0 inches
2023-24 stats: 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 steals per game, 38.5% 3-point percentage
Former UNC forward Harrison Ingram had a decent showing in the shooting drills, shooting 64% from three in the spot up drill, 56.7% off the dribble and 52% in the star drill. Standing at 6 feet, 5.25 inches without shoes, Ingram isn’t the tallest small forward in the draft. However, he has a more solid build and favorable length, weighing 233.6 pounds and stretching out with a 7-foot wingspan.
Ingram also impressed in the scrimmages, scoring 14 points on a 57% shooting clip, including three made three-pointers, on day one. On day two, he struggled from the field, but Ingram contributed in other ways as he grabbed six rebounds and dished out six assists. He’s projected to be a late first round to early second round pick in this year’s draft.
Jared McCain (Duke)
Lane agility: 10.87 seconds; Shuttle run: 3.07 seconds; Three quarter sprint: 3.23 seconds; Max vertical leap: 33.0 inches
2023-24 stats: 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 41.4% 3-point percentage
Former Duke guard Jared McCain put his strengths to work in the combine drills. Known for his ability to knock down the deep ball, he made 19 out of 25 three-point attempts in a spot up shooting drill which was the best performance out of all shooting guards. He didn’t have the most impressive size in his position group as he measured in at 6 feet, 2 inches tall with a 6-foot, 3.5-inch wingspan. However, his value as a scorer could make him a solid roster piece. McCain also did not participate in the scrimmages, but he’s expected to be a mid-first round pick.
Hunter Sallis (Wake Forest)
Lane agility: 10.82 seconds; Shuttle run: 3.16 seconds; Three quarter sprint: 3.11 seconds; Max vertical leap: 36.0 inches
2023-24 stats: 18.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 40.5% 3-point percentage
Hunter Sallis, former Wake Forest guard, displayed solid athleticism, and he had a great showing in the spot up shooting drill, making 18 out of 25 three point attempts. He also did well at shooting off the dribble, shooting 73.3% in that drill. Sallis didn’t do as well in the moving shooting drills, yet he’s a solid defender who can be a valuable shot maker on the next level. His draft projection is less certain as he’s predicted to be a late first round to mid second round pick.
Rob Dillingham (Kentucky)
2023-24 stats: 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 44.4% 3-point percentage
Hickory native and former Kentucky standout Rob Dillingham measured in at just 6-foot-one, without shoes. He recorded a 6-foot, 3-inch wingspan at the combine. In a league increasingly reliant on size, Dillingham’s measurements for a point guard aren’t ideal, but he’s still projected to be a top 10 pick in the draft. Due to a minor injury, Dillingham didn’t participate in the strength and agility and shooting drills, nor did he participate in the scrimmages.