Hines heads to Orlando for NBA pre-draft camp

ORLANDO, FL – It was better late than never for Kyle Hines on Monday afternoon. A new UNC Greensboro graduate, Hines got a call from the NBA offices early Monday afternoon as a late addition to the league’s pre-draft camp at the Walt Disney World complex this week.

The 6-6 forward from Sicklerville, NJ had been awaiting notification last week that he would be among the approximately 70 players to participate at the camp that is attended by player personnel officials and general managers from each of the league’s 30 teams. That notice didn’t come early last week. However, as some players turned down the offer to participate, it became Hines’ opportunity to showcase his talents.

Hines, who was catching a flight from Greensboro to Orlando on Tuesday morning, is coming off an outstanding performance at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in mid-April. The PIT showcases the top seniors that expect to move into the professional ranks, while the NBA’s pre-draft camp includes underclassmen and foreign players. At the PIT, Hines finished the three-day tournament shooting 22-of-28 from the floor for 78.6 percent, the best shooting percentage in the history of the 56-year tournament. He eclipsed the previous mark of 76.5 percent in 2004 by Xavier’s Justin Cage (13-for-17).

Hines’ 17.3 ppg scoring average was best on his team and fourth overall among the 64 players at the PIT. His 10 blocked shots was tied for the most at the tournament this season, equaling the total of Drexel’s Frank Elegar, and just one shy of the tournament record. He also averaged 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals, which was tied for third-best during the three days.

The NBA has yet to release a full list of players that will be participating in the pre-draft camp. Teams met with league officials two weeks ago to determine a list of players that would be on the initial invite list and those that would become alternates. Letters were then sent out to those invited players by the NBA office in New York. In the past, players who are projected as Top 10 picks have skipped out on playing at the camp, choosing to just appear for the measurement portion. Additionally, some underclassmen who did not sign with an agent have withdrawn from the camp and the ensuing NBA draft and chosen to return to college, unhappy with their projected draft status.

Hines, who earned his third straight USBWA All-District selection this season, set career records at UNCG with 2,187 points, 1,047 rebounds and 349 blocks. He is one of 97 players in college basketball history to record 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds and one of just six to also have 300 career blocks joining Alonzo Mourning, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Pervis Ellison and Derrick Coleman. This past season, he averaged 19.2 ppg, second in the Southern Conference behind Stephen Curry. He also led the conference in blocks with 95 and in rebounding at 9.1 per contest. His 56 steals also ranked among the conference’s leaders. He became just the fourth player in the Southern Conference’s 62-years of all-conference selections to become a four-time first-team selection and the first in 20 years.

Hines scored in double figures in each of his last 81 games, the longest active streak in the nation. He finished in the Top 5 among active players in career points, career rebounds, career blocked shots and career double-doubles (45).

The camp will run through Friday. NBA TV will provide live coverage of the pre-draft camp on Thursday and Friday from 12 noon to 3 pm.

- UNCG -