Lakers News: 2 Florida Stars Among Prospects In LA's Latest Pre-Draft Audition

Could either Gator wind up in the purple and gold?

Your Los Angeles Lakers continue to leave no stone unturned in the run-up to this Thursday's impending NBA draft.

Dave McMenamin of ESPN reports that LA, who as you'll recall possesses the Nos. 17 and 47 picks this year, held yet another pre-draft workout of six league hopefuls yesterday.

As usual, a collective of scouts, other front office executives and coaches examined Texas Christian University guard Damion Baugh, Kent State point guard Sincere Carry, Clemson forward Hunter Tyson, Gonzaga big man Drew Timme, and University of Florida forwards Alex Fudge and Colin Castleton.

During his final season with the Horned Frogs, the 6'3" Baugh averaged 12.6 points on .431/.330/.707 shooting splits, 5.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.8 steals a night. Baugh split his four NCAA seasons between TCU and the University of Memphis Tigers.

Carry, a 6'1" guard out of Kent State, is pretty decorated. He was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year for his run in 2021-22, and has been an All-MAC First-Team and All-Defensive Team honoree across each of the past two seasons. In 35 contests last year, he averaged 17.5 points on 40.8% shooting from the field, 4.8 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals a night.

A fifth-year forward at Clemson, Tyson was named to the All-ACC Team in 2022-23. He averaged 15.3 points on .479/.405/.838 shooting splits, 9.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.9 steals a night.

Timme spent all four of his NCAA seasons at Gonzaga, current Laker Rui Hachimura's alma matter. The 6'10" power forward/center averaged 21.2 points on 61.6% shooting from the field, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 blocks a night. The now-former Bulldog was a three-time consensus All-American selection (once First-Team, twice Second-Team). He's twice been named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year, and was a three-time First-Team All-WCC honoree as well.

Castleton, a 6'11" center/power forward, was a First-Team All-Southeastern Conference selection in 2023, and two-time Second-Teamer. He was also an SEC All-Defensive Team pick. Last year, he averaged 16 points on 50% field goal shooting, 7.7 rebounds, a whopping 3.0 blocks (!), 2.7 dimes and 0.9 steals per game. The less-heralded fudge averaged just 5.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per contest in his second NCAA Season (he played for Louisiana State University in 2021-22).

Fascinatingly, this was an encore performance for Fudge, who also worked out for Los Angeles last Wednesday. The Lakers must be intrigued by his upside.

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