By Kate Constable The 2019 NBA draft combine brought the game’s biggest coaches, scouts and front office personnel together on Thursday, as they sat shoulder to shoulder on the plastic bleachers inside Quest Multisport in Chicago, waiting to identify the next big name. It also brought bright-eyed young talent, waiting to be identified as the next big name. Players went through a series of shooting, strength and agility drills and received official measurements. But as players took the floor for full court scrimmages, they were tasked with putting on a performance that wouldn’t be measured by traditional statistics. To coaches, scouts and front office personnel, the game’s final score didn’t matter, offensive efficiency didn’t matter, even one’s shooting percentage didn’t carry significant weight. Instead, a player’s game was measured by effort, intensity and instincts. “I came into this week and even the G-League camp, knowing that I wouldn’t get as many shots as I normally would in college, but that wasn’t my concern,” said Iowa forward Tyler Cook. “I just tried to focus on playing hard, defending and bringing energy, being that teammate that everyone wants to have on their team.” “You’ve got to do the little things to make yourself stand out,” said Nebraska guard Isaiah Roby. “You’ve got to grab rebounds at their highest point, make defensive plays and also offensive plays in terms of spacing.” The majority of players participating in Thursday scrimmages won’t be lottery picks in June, but a strong showing at the combine could be the difference in becoming a late first-round pick or an early second-round pick. “All of us are out there playing our hardest and just trying to prove ourselves,” said Kyle Guy, who helped lead Virginia to a national championship this past season. However, an impressive performance doesn’t limit itself to time spent on the court. “The other thing is [teams] will get an opportunity to meet [Cook], get to know him, ask complex questions and evaluate his intellect, said Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery who sat courtside to watch his former player. “That for him is going to be an incredible positive because he’s so bright so articulate and very humble, which I think is important.” Texas’ Jaxson Hayes is another player who, despite being projected as a top-10 pick, is taking full advantage of the opportunity to meet with teams. He has already had 10 interviews this week, with three more coming on Friday. “They’ve only seen me from the outside, so this is the first time they’re getting to see me as a person,” said Hayes. “I think that’s the biggest thing.” The combine wraps up on Friday, but players will have to wait until the draft – which begins June 20 – to find out what kind of impression they left on teams this week. .