Knowing Solomon Hill, you know he knocked the team interview out of the park.
And now you also know he was beyond impressive in his two workouts with the Indiana Pacers, a team comprised of hard workers and non-stars. Indiana surprised many of the prognosticators by taking the former Arizona standout in the first round of Thursday night's draft with the 23rd overall pick of the NBA draft. Most regarded Hill as a second-round prospect.
Meanwhile, Grant Jerrett, who raised some eyebrows in deciding to leave Arizona after his freshman year, must have known something about his chances of being drafted, too. Jerrett, a 6-foot-10 versatile but wispy forward, went in the second round to Portland with the 40th pick. It was the first time since 2009 (Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger) that two Arizona players went in the NBA draft.
Jerrett, who averaged just 17 minutes a game and 5.2 points per game, worked out for the Trail Blazers late last month, telling reporters he had "a lot to prove" in deciding to come out, hinting he came out not necessarily because it was a weak draft but that he could show enough to get noticed.
He did, although second-round selections aren't always signed to guaranteed contracts.
Hill won't have that problem. His contract will be guaranteed, as those of all first-round picks are.
Indiana was intrigued enough by Hill to bring him in twice. The latest workout came on Monday.
"It feels great to be a first-round draft pick, and it’s very humbling,” Hill said through the school's sports information office. "I've learned that you have to focus on being the best player you can be and do the little things to help your team win. That's something Coach (Sean) Miller helped me focus on over the last few seasons, and it's great to see the hard work pay off."
"I love the position I'm in. The Pacers are a great team that competes for championships. I now get the chance to learn from their older guys, so I have a chance to carve out a role and do whatever I can to help the team be successful."
In a post-draft radio interview, Indianapolis coach Frank Vogel said Hill fit the Pacers because of his defensive toughness, work ethic (he said Hill's practice mentality was legendary) and basketball IQ.
Pacers general manager Kevin Pritchard said Hill has the ability to guard on the perimeter and near the basket.
"My job is playing defense and spreading the floor," Hill said on a conference call with reporters. "I have to practice early, I have to work hard and try to be that guy who comes off the bench and plays well."
Hill, articulate and thought provoking, had to impress the Pacers officials by this quote alone after his first workout with the team two weeks ago: "The greats have a great work ethic. They say Kobe (Bryant) and MJ (Michael Jordan) never sleep. You think about those guys doing what they do on a nightly basis, if they don’t sleep, what’s my excuse?"
At Arizona, the 6-foot-7 Hill went from a guy who hit just four 3-pointers in 18 attempts in his freshman year to hitting 40 percent (57-143) as a senior. After Derrick Williams left to the NBA two years ago, Hill became the leader of Arizona basketball.
After Hill was picked by Indiana, former Arizona star turned NBA analyst Steve Kerr tweeted his congratulations by saying Hill was the "heart and soul of Arizona basketball the past few years."
Arizona coach Sean Miller tweeted shortly after Hill went: "Solomon's desire to excel, his competitive spirit, basketball intelligence and team-centered attitude is unmatched."
The Pacers felt the same way.
"We graded out his defensive possessions, and we thought he was terrific defensively," Pritchard said. "As Frank (Vogel) got more involved, he really liked him, too. We think he's going to be a good defensive player and that's our culture."
The selections of Hill and Jerrett give UA 36 NBA draft picks since 1988. UA has had at least one player taken in 21 of the last 25 NBA drafts, including 16 in the first round.
"Each year that Solomon played at the U of A, he improved his game," Miller said in a prepared statement. "There’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll have a successful career in the NBA.”
And Miller is predicting good things from Jerrett, too.
"Although he was part of our program for a short period of time, he demonstrated a multitude of talents as a player," Miller said. "His high skill level, strong work ethic and unique size give him a very bright future in the NBA. I’m excited to watch him continue to develop, and I look forward to watching him reach his vast potential."
By the end of the night and the NBA Draft was said and done, Jerrett already had changed teams. He had been shipped to Oklahoma City for cash, joining fellow Pac-12 Conference player Andre Roberson on the Thunder.
"We're really intrigued," assistant general manager Troy Weaver said on the team's website. "He really piqued our interest during the process. The guy can really shoot the ball. He shot 40 percent from three as a big in college, which rarely happens for a 6-foot-10 kid. We like his tools and his skill set. We believe he's a player that can continue to grow with the program. …
"He has some tremendous tools, length and shooting ability. He has a knack for the ball. He comes up with balls and can block a shot. He's not scared to mix it up inside."
