June 17, 2008

Bob McClellan
Rivals.com College Basketball

While other underclassmen scrambled Monday to pull their names out of the NBA Draft, IUPUI guard George Hill sat back and relaxed, confident the early entry process had worked well for him.

Hill had a blockbuster junior season, averaging 21.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists, and earning Summit League Player of the Year honors. He put his name in the NBA Draft with the thought of gauging his pro potential.

Hill, a 6-foot-2 combo guard, was invited to the pre-draft camp in Orlando and played well. A slew of private workouts followed, and his stock has continued to rise. It's unlikely he'll be a first-round pick, but he almost assuredly will be drafted. That's good enough for him, and he signed with an agent over the weekend.

"The process has been a blast always," Hill told Rivals.com on Monday. "Getting invited everywhere (Hill already has worked out for Boston, the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston, Indiana, Minnesota, Sacramento, San Antonio and Seattle) has been a blessing. ? It has been great to visit different cities, meet the coaches."

Hill said his confidence grew in Orlando and has been buoyed by continued good play for the teams that have brought him in. He is working out for Cleveland today, with Washington, New Jersey and the Clippers still to come.

Hill said it wasn't easy to leave behind the Jaguars, whom he led to a 26-7 record last season. "It was hard to leave a place you love and were treated well, but you want to make things best for yourself," he said. "I felt it was time to move on."

First-round picks receive guaranteed two-year contracts. Second-round picks are guaranteed nothing.

"It's kind of a bittersweet thing," IUPUI coach Ron Hunter told the Indianapolis Star about Hill's departure. "I've been talking with him since he was a junior in high school about being a pro.

"I'm happy for him but I'm sad to lose him, just like I'd be sad losing any of my seniors who was getting a job. His job just happens to be basketball."

For underclassmen from lesser-known schools following in his footsteps, Hill has this advice. "Follow your heart and pray about it," he said. "The situation will come to you. Leave it to the man upstairs and believe in yourself."

HILL'S SCOUTING REPORT

Hill has worked out for eight NBA teams so far and has run into some draft hopefuls on multiple occasions. Rivals.com asked the Summit League Player of the Year who has impressed him the most.

"I like (UCLA guard) Russell Westbrook a lot," Hill said. "He's a very nice person and humble, and his game speaks for itself.

"(Forward) Shaun Pruitt from Illinois ? he really shocked me. I knew he was good but he showed me different aspects of his game that I hadn't seen from him."

Westbrook will be a lottery pick. Pruitt was a surprise mention: He's unlikely to be drafted.

Bob McClellan is the college basketball editor for Rivals.com. He can be reached at bmcclellan@rivals.com.