NBA Draft: SLCC time proves invaluable to Payton II

Chicago • Some NBA prospects have been hot items for years. They've been sought after since high school. They were stars through college, and were destined to be pros seemingly since elementary school.

Gary Payton II is not one of those guys.

Through most of his upbringing, he was more known for being the son of the Hall of Fame point guard than anything else. But he became a big factor at Oregon State, and unreeled several highlight plays this week at the NBA's pre-draft combine. He seems like a good bet to play somewhere in the league.

For Payton, the success is nice. But on Friday, he said none of it would have been possible without his two-year stint at Salt Lake Community College.

"Playing junior college ball really prepared me for the real world," Payton said. "I loved my time at SLCC. I loved playing there, I loved the coaching staff and I was ready for the next step once I got to Oregon State."

Like his father, Payton is a point guard and an exceptional defender, especially on the ball. He uses his quickness and his strength to make life difficult for opposing ballhandlers. He's also a good team defender, and he's a great athlete.

Payton isn't the offensive threat his father was, nor is he as big as the elder Payton. But he has the natural advantage of being left-handed, is a very good rebounder for a guard and showed this week at the combine that he can get to the basket off the dribble.

Currently, he's projected as a second-round pick. But he feels as if he's played well enough to make a roster next season and contribute at the NBA level.

"I want to show scouts that I'm a good defender," Payton said. "I want to show that I'm improving as a shooter and that I can run a team as a point guard, and that I have a good attitude. I'm going to always play hard, and I'm not going to back down from people."

Can we talk?

On Friday morning, the Jazz had sit-downs with Syracuse guard Malachi Richardson and Isaiah Whitehead from Seton Hall. On Friday afternoon, The Tribune learned that Richardson, who led Syracuse to a Final Four berth, will stay in the upcoming NBA draft, sign with an agent and forgo his final three seasons of eligibility.

Richardson and Whitehead are both combination guards who can create off the dribble.

"It was a good meeting," Whitehead told The Tribune. "They were just telling me where they thought I would fit with them. I thought it was very productive."

Building on Thursday

Joel Bolomboy, the forward out of Weber State, had another good showing on Friday, scoring 10 points and adding nine rebounds in his game before scouts and general managers.

He's been one of the players who's helped his stock this week, showing off the athleticism that made him a prospect in the first place. At this point, it would be a big surprise if Bolomboy went undrafted. He's someone who's seen as a solid second-round pick.

Coming back

Memphis forward Dedric Lawson missed a workout with the Jazz two weeks ago. He said he is rescheduling and will return to Salt Lake, so he can audition for the team.

tjones@sltrib.com

twitter: @tjonessltrib