North Carolina State University Athletics
Thornton And Wilkins Compete At Chicago Camp
6/5/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 5, 2001
By Tony Haynes
When they take the floor for this week's pre-NBA Draft Camp at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Damon Thornton and Damien Wilkins will be labeled as longshots to be selected in the annual draft later this month. Of course, the Chicago camp will give both players an opportunity to improve their status.
From June 5-8, Thornton, Wilkins and 58 other hopefuls will put their talents on display at a camp that is closed to the public. Eager to find this year's "diamond in the rough," only NBA scouts, coaches and general managers will be permitted to witness three straight days of scrimmages. Each club is allowed to have at least 10 representatives at the camp.
By now, the 6-8 Thornton should be feeling right at home at these camps. Earlier this spring, the former Wolfpack forward competed in pre-draft camps in Portsmouth, Virginia and Phoenix, Arizona. Thornton earned himself invitations to the camps in Phoenix and Chicago by performing well in Portsmouth. In his senior season at State, the power forward averaged 6.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
The 6-6 Wilkins is still weighing all of his options after declaring himself eligible for the draft following his sophomore season. By not hiring an agent, Wilkins can still return for his junior year at NC State if he chooses to withdraw his name from the draft by June 20th. He should have a better feel for where he stands after competing in this week's camp. Wilkins averaged 11.7 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Pack last season.
