Ex-Wildcat Solomon Hill works out for Suns
Jun 22, 2013, 9:52 PM | Updated: 9:52 pm
Four years earlier, Solomon Hill was a sought-after high school recruit with options for where to continue his playing career.
Now, he’s on the other side, trying to recruit teams and prove to them he’s an option for them to call his name on draft night.
His tour through NBA cities landed the former UA Wildcat in Phoenix Saturday for a workout with a group of perimeter players that included Reggie Bullock (North Carolina), Carrick Felix (ASU), Elias Harris (Gonzaga), James Southerland (Syracuse) and Brandon Triche (Syracuse).
“I’ve enjoyed it,” Hill said of the pre-draft workout process. “You only get so many chances to meet the different GMs, the scouts and the coaches. You’ve got to enjoy every time you step into a practice facility, any time you get to shake somebody’s hand because in a couple of days you’re going to be fighting for a job at the next level.”
The Suns were Hill’s 17th visit, with each one allowing him to show that, yes, at 6-foot-7 and 226 pounds, he can play outside the lane, even though he wasn’t asked much to in college.
“I’ve always felt like a wing,” he said. “I think I’m really catching people by surprise at some of these workouts when they see my ability to put the ball on the floor and stay in front of guys. But that’s something I’ve always done.”
Hill was a first-team All-Pac-12 performer as both a junior and senior. He finished his career as a 48 percent shooter, including 37.5 percent from three-point range.
“He shot the ball very well today,” Suns’ GM Ryan McDonough said of Hill’s workout. “I was impressed with his NBA three-point shooting ability. He showed some stuff off the dribble here that I didn’t get to see a whole lot of at UA. That wasn’t his role. He’s a good player.”
Whether that means he’s good enough to be drafted won’t be known for a few more days.
Hill though isn’t bothering himself with trying to predict what will happen on June 27.
“I try not to get caught up with that,” he said. “I just try to just show up every day and just work out as hard as I can and just let the decision makers make that decision, because definitely somebody can tell you one thing and something goes different on draft day. There’s trades. Players get picked up. Players get moved, so you never know what’s going to happen.”
Should he hear his name called, and even if he doesn’t, Hill will not stop working.
“You still have to fight for a spot, regardless if you’re a guy taken in the lottery, end of the first round, second round or undrafted, you’re going to have to fight for your spot,” he said. “Every year you’re going to have to fight. It’s a draft every year. Things are going to be competitive from here on out.”
