The book is still out on where BYU center Rafael Araujo will go in next month's NBA draft. But that doesn't keep interesting stories from popping up as the 6-foot-11 center undergoes workouts leading up to June's NBA draft camp in Chicago.
For instance, take this one from fellow Brazilian Walter Roese, director of basketball at BYU. Roese talked to Araujo over the weekend about his workout before four teams in Los Angeles this past week including the Spurs. The workout pitted Araujo against Colorado's 7-foot center David Harrison, who declared for the draft as a junior.
Scouts set up the Harrison-Araujo workout with a pair of point guards, and it was two-on-two. Araujo, according to Roese, is now at 295 pounds, and Harrison's agent reportedly stopped the workout after 45 minutes of Araujo domination.
"He's very excited and he's doing very well. He believes he's moving up, just on moving up," Roese said.
Here's how a couple of NBA mock drafts see Araujo's June fortunes.
NBADraft.net has Araujo going No. 24 to Boston. Collegehoops.net projects the big Brazilian to go No. 15 to Boston.
Here's Collegehoops.net Doug Enzler's take on Araujo: "In addition to his size, Araujo certainly has the talent that NBA scouts love. A smart, skilled center, he is a dominating rebounder and can score with either power or finesse. The athletic Brazilian is also an excellent passer out of the post, runs the floor well and can even knock down the occasional three pointer. His game has often been compared to former Portland Trail Blazers star Arvydas Sabonis, which is perhaps why many NBA draft analysts predict that Araujo will be drafted in the mid- to late first round. Due to BYU's lack of television exposure, Araujo is still a virtual unknown to many basketball fans, but as the word spreads, his rare combination of size and skill could propel him into the NBA Draft Lottery.
Head football coach Gary Crowton may toy with some running back prospects from junior colleges in weeks to come, but the fact is, he's used up all his scholarships.
The reason? "We oversigned with 28 because we knew some athletes (Eddie Scipio) may not make it in for fall semester. We've had others qualify like Isley Filiaga (Timpanogos defensive tackle), and we are all full." By Crowton's calculations the scholarships vacated by Marcus Whalen, Rey Brathwaite, James Allen and others in a pair of honor code situations are also spoken for at this time.
Speaking of spoken for: A cadre of Cougar football players have exchanged marriage vows this spring or will in coming weeks. Last year's squad, according to media relations, had 38 married men playing at the beginning of the season last fall. By comparison, USC, BYU's opponent in the opener next fall, may have a couple of married players.
Players signed up for vows include quarterback John Beck, receivers Matt Allen and Zack Collie, linebackers Lawrence Cowan and Paul Walkenhorst, defensive back Jared McLaughlin, offensive linemen Eddie Keele, Brian Sanders and David Sollami and kicker Justin Williams.
As you can tell, the "older, more mature" offensive linemen are the lead blockers in this regard.
In hoops, recruits Keena Young (South Plains Community College) and Josh Reisman (San Jose Community College) will enroll in summer semester in mid-June. While they are unable to do any skill development with coaches, they will enter a workout regimen with conditioning coach Justin McLure.
It appears the Cougars will get former Mountain View (Mesa, Ariz.) point guard Yahosh Bonner to walk on this fall. Bonner has applied to BYU after finishing a year at Choate's Prep Academy in Connecticut. Bonner played his freshman and sophomore years at Cedar City before moving to Mesa for his junior and senior years.
E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com