UNC Basketball's Harrison Ingram Comments on Mock Drafts: 'I See It'

The UNC basketball standout is just openly eager to play absolutely anywhere in the NBA.

UNC basketball forward Harrison Ingram versus Duke / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Harrison Ingram, a one-year UNC basketball starting forward following his two campaigns at Stanford and looking to become the first Tar Heel to hear their name at an NBA Draft since 2021, worked out for the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.

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The 21-year-old All-ACC Third Team performer sounded enthusiastic about his day out there when speaking to reporters afterward. But he guaranteed an all-in approach for whichever franchise ultimately decides to select him, also mentioning "adaptability" — even if just "clapping on the bench" — as one of his top attributes as a draft prospect.

"It doesn't really matter where I go...I mean, if you want to draft me, please, please do," he said with a humble chuckle.

Media availability and on-court footage from Harrison Ingram’s Pre-Draft workout with the Portland Trail Blazers yesterday. The versatile 21-year-old wing discussed his adaptability and evolution throughout college, transitioning from Stanford to North Carolina. pic.twitter.com/99vTtxLHNY

— Jacob Myers (@League_Him) May 31, 2024

At the same time, though, he was notably honest about the fact neither he nor any of his peers should deny sometimes crossing paths with mock drafts online. After all, they're practically unavoidable.

"I mean, any player is lying to say they don't look at it every once in a while," Ingram, appearing anywhere being a late first-rounder to mid-to-late second-rounder on mock drafts and big boards, explained to the media on hand. "We see it. We're on Twitter. We're on Instagram. I mean, I see it. As much as I don't really care about it, but I see it...

"At the end of the day, I know what my game is. And if you look at any draft, just because someone goes ahead of you, or someone is behind you, doesn't mean they're a better or worse player than you. I mean, that's just maybe how you're viewed. For me, it's just about taking my path, and I'm gonna work as hard as I can, and whatever happens is gonna happen, and I'm gonna try to get there."

No other 2023-24 Tar Heels are early NBA Draft entrants, and Ingram is the only UNC basketball player projected to come off the board in Brooklyn's Barclays Center, June 26-27.

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