Jack McClinton works out for Miami Heat

MIAMI - University of Miami guard Jack McClinton wanted to make sure he took something out of Wednesday's pre-draft tryout at AmericanAirlines Arena.

So after he gave the Miami Heat's scouting braintrust a shooting exhibition, he huddled with coach Erik Spoelstra.

"We were talking about my step-back," he said, "how effective it is, and adding a counter-move to it when they start crowding my space."

While the two-time first-team All-ACC selection won't know his pro landing spot until the June 25 NBA Draft, he certainly tempted the Heat, converting 40 of 50 mid-range jumpers and 36 of 50 3-pointers in a drill against UConn point guard A.J. Price.

"It went good," he said, sweat still dripping onto his Heat practice gear. "I shot the ball well, played pretty good defense, competed."

The 6-foot-1 streak shooter said he now has worked out for half of the league's 30 teams.

"I'm hearing a lot of my range being from 22 to 45," he said, with 30 selections in each of the two rounds.

The Heat holds the Nos. 43 and 60 selections in the second round.

McClinton said he was so anxious for the workout that he tried to get on the court early.

"I mean it's a blessing, just to be able to come in here and get invited to work out with these guys in front of Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra," he said.

Having attended South Kent Prep in Connecticut with Dorell Wright, he said he huddled with the Heat forward before the session. "We sat down the other day, ate at Monty's, and we were just talking about the workouts," he said. "Me and Dorell are almost neighbors. So we hang out every day. We talk every day."

The issue with McClinton has been, due to his diminutive stature, whether can be productive at point guard.

"We did a lot of ball-screening, pick-and-roll stuff," he said. "Going into these camps, they want to see that. They know I can shoot the ball. They want to see if I can put the ball on the ground. I've really been showing that in my workouts."



(sun-sentinel.com)