Weems To Attend Orlando Pre-Draft Camp

FAYETTEVILLE — Former Arkansas basketball player Sonny Weems will attend the NBA’s pre-draft camp on May 27-30 in Orlando. The NBA will not officially release the list of players heading to the camp until Monday.

But when contacted Thursday night, Weems confirmed his inclusion and said he couldn’t wait to showcase his skills against 60 to 70 of his fellow draft hopefuls.

“I’ll be there,” Weems said. “I got that invite two or three weeks ago, and I’m excited about it. I’m trying to go out there and prove that I’m worth a pick in the first round.”

That figures to be a tough task for Weems, a 6-foot-6 guard/forward who led Arkansas in scoring this season. Weems, who won the NCAA slam dunk competition in San Antonio, is projected by most mock drafts as a second-round pick in the NBA Draft on June 26.

Most mock drafts being circulated on the Internet project only the first round. But the few that do project the entire draft have Weems being selected in the second round.

CollegeHoops.net has Weems being chosen by the Sacramento Kings with the 42nd overall pick. TheHoopsReport.com has Weems being picked by the Seattle Supersonics with the 43rd pick. NBADraft.net has Weems headed to the Phoenix Suns with the 48th pick, and DraftExpress.com has Weems going to the Utah Jazz with the 53rd pick.

Then again, nothing is guaranteed. ESPN draft expert Chad Ford doesn’t have Weems listed in his top 100 prospects for the draft. Weems passed up on a chance to impress scouts in April when he turned down an invitation to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, a showcase for the country’s top seniors.

SONNY WEEMS

Age: 21

Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 210 pounds

Hometown: West Memphis

Junior College: Arkansas-Fort Smith

Notables: Averaged 17.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists and shot 42.6 percent from 3-point range during Southeastern Conference play this season. ... Named to the 2007 SEC Tournament all-tournament team. ... Played on championship teams at West Memphis High (state title) and Arkansas-Fort Smith (junior college national title).