Draft prospect Canaan loves New York
By Jared Zwerling | ESPNNewYork.com
GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Draft prospect Isaiah Canaan, a point guard from Murray
State, arrived in New York for the first time on Tuesday night like an
excited tourist.
"I flew in at nighttime and that was one of the best things I've seen," he
said Wednesday at the Knicks' training facility. "I was amazed just flying in
at nighttime."
Canaan is projected to be picked in the late first or early second round of
the June 27 draft. He said he was "motivated" during his Knicks workout --
which he said went "real good" -- knowing the team is planning to add depth
at his position after Jason Kidd's retirement.
"It's a great opportunity for me personally to showcase that I can come in
and play," said Canaan, who noted that head coach Mike Woodson was involved
in the workout. "You can learn from a guy like Raymond Felton and Carmelo
[Anthony], so it's a great opportunity for me to come in and know that they
need a guard."
The 6-0, 188-pound Canaan averaged 21.8 points per game as a senior. While
his 3-point percentage dropped from .456 in 2011-12 to .370 this past season,
he's still regarded as one of the best point guard prospects at shooting off
screens and off the dribble. His biggest pitch is proving he can make plays
for others on the next level. He only averaged 4.3 assists per game as a
senior.
"In order for us to win at Murray State, I had to score the basketball, so
that's what I was forced to do," he said. "But if I have players around me
that they pay a lot of money to score the basketball, I don't have a problem
[passing] as well. I'm all about winning."
Canaan is a shorter and less athletic version of Trail Blazers point guard
Damian Lillard, the NBA's reigning Rookie of the Year, who also played
mid-major college ball, at Weber State.
"He came from a small school like myself," Canaan said of Lillard. "He really
gave an opportunity for guys like me."
Canaan said he's also "real close" to the Clippers' Chris Paul, and he tries
to emulate the All-Star's game.
"We met at his camp last summer when I decided to come back to school. He's a
great guy," Canaan said. "I had a chance to play against him and we exchanged
numbers, and stayed in touch throughout the season. He really admired my
game. He liked what I did.
"One day, I want to be able to do some of the things, if not better, than he
did throughout his career."
Canaan might be undersized, but he's thinking big.
"I'm very confident. I'm a competitor," he said. "I'm not going to back down
to nobody."
http://tinyurl.com/l3sl5d5
--
─── ▊ ◣ [[ ◣ =◥" ◢ ． ∵ ◆]] ╱ ▁◥▼ ──────────
▊◢◤ ◣ ◥◥ ▂◤▊ ◥ ▂ ▼◢◤\ ◢▼ ▲Once a Knicks,
▊◤ ▊ ◥◣▊ ◢◤◥ ▊◢◤◢◤◥ ▼‵､ ◥ ◤◢ always a Knicks.
▊◥◣ ▊ ▊ ▊ ★ ▊◣ ◥◣ ─-.╳ ▲◤ ▲
▊ ◥▎▊ ◤▊ ◥◣ ▊◥◣ ◣◥◣▲ ρ\ `,▼▼ ψsherry821224
─── ◥ ◥ ◤ ◥ ◥ ◥ ◥▆ ◥ | ◢◢▲ ──────────
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 114.47.225.185