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B2 l Friday, April , laramieboomerang.com Laramie Boomerang NFL DRAFT WNBA DRAFT Oregon guard Ionescu Video chats to home workouts, expected to be No. 1 pick draft prospects get it done AP PHOTO Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu celebrates after a play March 6 during a game against Utah in the quarterfinal round of the Pac-12 women’s tournament in Las Vegas. a care package to many of By DOUG FEINBERG the top picks with hats of all AP Basketball Writer 12 teams, a WNBA sweat- shirt, confetti and a few NEW YORK — It will be other items. no surprise if Oregon star Coaches and gener- Sabrina Ionescu is the No. al managers are spread AP PHOTO 1 pick in the WNBA draft through the country and UCLA running back Joshua Kelley does the broad jump test at the NFL football scouting combine Feb. 28 in Indianapolis. tonight by the New York Chicago coach James Wade Liberty. is in France. So they are can’t go out in that field or have someone touchpoint, but we’re really missing out It would be surprise, how- setting up virtual war rooms By ROB MAADDI come up and run them off that field,” on the personal touchpoint, when you ever, if she isn’t. instead of gathering in their AP Pro Football Writer Callaway said. “If there’s a place nearby, can smell or feel a guy.” The Ducks guard, who own team facilities. they’ve tried it, whether it’s a local park Baltimore Ravens GM Eric DeCosta was the consensus player of The Liberty and Wings UCLA running back Joshua Kelley was where they’ve shown up and found it said one of the biggest challenges with the year, has been projected basically control the draft looking forward to visiting various NFL locked up. We’ve heard of guys literally lack of visits is assessing injured players. as the Liberty’s choice since with half of the 12 first- teams, checking out their facilities and working out in fields. Some of them are “We’ve had to really work with our the team won the draft round picks between them meeting coaches before the COVID-19 working out in their homes or in their training staff and with the college training lottery. after a series of trades over pandemic changed the pre-draft process. yards or in the street, running in the staffs to get as much updated information “I’ve talked to their coach the last year. New York has “I think that would’ve been really dope street.” as possible,” DeCosta said. a little bit, and he’s been the No 1, 9 and 12 picks; because I’ve been a fan of the NFL for so Boston College running back A.J. Agents are helping players post videos awesome,” Ionescu said Dallas the No. 2, 5 and 7 long and to get a chance to actually be in Dillon said he misses the weight room on social media because they missed during a Zoom call earlier picks. a facility and see what goes on would’ve and working with trainers in person. He’s out on pro days. It’s especially important this week. “Obviously, they been really cool,” Kelley said. doing sit-ups and push-ups at home and for prospects who weren’t invited to the have a new staff in place. I’m UNDERCLASS TREND Instead, because the NFL on March running. combine. just excited if I get that op- For the fifth time in six portunity. I think they have 13 barred all in-person pre-draft visits, “This is my only draft, so this is my Isiah Perkins, a cornerback from years at least one junior the right pieces in place, and Kelley and other prospects had to do normal,” Dillon said. “I’m making the University of New Hampshire, posted a decided to forego their final the goals and the vision that “virtual” visits with teams. Their conver- most of it, everybody is. Obviously the “virtual” pro day. He ran a 4.47 40 and year of college eligibility and sations with coaching staffs took place on biggest difference is the visits, the team had impressive numbers overall. coaching staff and the front office has for that team are enter the WNBA draft. This video conferencing technology like Skype, meetings. I’ve done a bunch on Zoom.” “I wish I could have ran those times in season there are three with Zoom and FaceTime. Tulane wide receiver Darnell Mooney front of the scouts,” he said. bright.” Her Oregon teammate Chennedy Carter, Sabally On the positive side, the absence of said he runs four miles a day with his dog Kelley ran a 4.49 40 at the combine, but and Megan Walker. The trio visits gave players more time to work out. and works out at home. He goes outside still posted a video doing drills last week. Satou Sabally, one of three juniors to forego their last are all expected to go in the “You take calls from coaches and then to do positional drills. “It shows he’s still working, he’s staying first round. you have the rest of the day to train,” “It’s not a big thing for me because I’m in good shape,” McManimie said. year of college eligibility and enter the draft, is expected Kelley said. “You’re not flying on a plane. always in the house,” said Mooney, who Agent Andre Odom said “communi- to go No. 2 to Dallas. IVY LEAGUE PRIDE You’re not in hotels. It’s an extremely ran a 4.38-second, 40-yard dash at the cation is paramount” during this unique It would be the third time Princeton star Bella Alarie different process right now.” combine. pre-draft period. is projected to go in the Of course, training schedules had to be in the history of the draft While this crop of prospects doesn’t “One of the things we’ve done is stay in that the top two picks were first round and would be drastically altered because players can’t know what a typical pre-draft process direct contact with teams, making sure we only the second Ivy League go to gyms or use their school’s facilities. from the same program. looks like, teams have had to make many help to streamline the virtual process as And if Oregon’s Ruthy player to be drafted that Kelley’s agent, Molly McManimie, said adjustments from their normal routine. best as possible,” Odom said. Hebard is also selected in high. Harvard star Allison she had to scramble to find 50-pound New York Giants general manager Dave Leigh Steinberg, who represents poten- the first round it would be Feaster was selected fifth in dumbbells for her client to use at home. Gettleman said the ability to chat with tial top-15 picks in Alabama’s Tua Tagov- fifth consecutive season and the 1998 draft by the Los “You get super creative,” McManimie players on video is “pretty beneficial” ailoa and Jerry Jeudy, remembers a much ninth overall that three col- Angeles Sparks. said. “That’s where your grit and determi- because “you can see the guys.” simpler time in 1975 when he represented lege teammates were taken nation comes in. Bottom line is, this is a “I’m a city kid and a big believer in No. 1 overall pick Steve Bartkowski. in the opening round. HONORING THE FUTURE good example of how you’re going to face body language and all this and that,” “They had game film and All-Star The WNBA is holding a The league will honor adversity. There’s going to be things in Gettleman said. “It’s not great, it’s not games. No combine, no pro days, no virtual draft because of the Alyssa Altobelli, Gianna your career that aren’t perfect. But if you perfect, it’s OK. For me, what we miss is passing days, no visits to teams or visits to coronavirus pandemic. The Bryant and Payton Ches- want it bad enough, you’ll make it work.” watching them interact, watching them in campuses,” Steinberg said. “The reality is NFL is following suit and ter during the draft. The Some players have more access to your facility. By not having pro days, you these players have been scouted. The truth having its draft virtually teenagers were among the equipment. Some have less. Space at also miss that personal contact. Watching of the matter is the best predictor of future next weekend. nine people who died in the home can be an issue, depending on guys among their peers and how they success is past success, so it’s game film. Of course, a virtual draft helicopter accident on Jan. where they’re living. operate, how they’re received. That tells They have enough information to have will have a few different 26, including Kobe Bryant. “What we’ve been able to do is create a lot when you just watch a kid in those scouted successfully. I think when we look quirks. Engelbert said the league a couple of different programs and send circumstances. down the road in five years, the picks will Draft prospects will be also plans to honor the them directly,” said Brent Callaway, pro “Obviously, when we would go to be as productive and the same percentage in their own homes instead former NBA star at the draft sports director at Exos in Dallas. workouts, a lot of times the night before, of mistakes will have been made.” of a central location and and during the upcoming Going outside has been the biggest our coach and scout that would be at the AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner the WNBA Commissioner season.

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