T.J. McConnell gets late combine invite, Robert Upshaw pulls out of 5-on-5 play
The terrific NCAA tournament play of T.J. McConnell has put him on the NBA draft radar.
The Arizona senior was largely a draft afterthought for most of the season despite his terrific defensive acumen, with his relative lack of an offensive game standing in his way. A 23-year-old senior, the point guard saw the decline of his 3-point shot continue, though he finished the year averaging 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.2 steals.
Arizona's run to the Elite Eight shone a spotlight on the 6-foot-1 point guard, and McConnell flashed the potential to be a reserve guard at the next level, playing mistake-free ball and locking down opposing points. He averaged 15.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, five assists and three steals in four tournament games, while shooting 53.5 percent from the floor.
While none of that may be enough to get him drafted - it wasn't for D-League Defensive Player of the Year and defense-first guard prototype Aaron Craft a year ago - it did earn him a late invite to the 2015 NBA Draft Combine.
McConnell makes for 63 players at the combine and speaks to his entrance into the top-100 prospects list. ESPN's Chad Ford ranks him No. 92 ahead of the combine, while DraftExpress is more optimistic, ranking him at No. 61.
An additional spot opened up due to Washington product Robert Upshaw pulling out of 5-on-5 competition, leaving one team short a player. Upshaw, a potential first-round pick, is still participating in physical measurements and interviews, but has been recovering from an undisclosed injury and isn't scrimmage-ready.
Top prospects declining to play at 5-on-5 is a common issue the NBA faces at the combine, and Upshaw's decision makes plenty of sense - either he risks looking out of shape or overmatched due to the injury, or he risks further injury. The upside just isn't there with a month-plus of inidivual workouts still to come.