Lottery projected NBA Draft prospects Anthony Black and Ausar Thompson reveal meetings with Indiana Pacers

The Pacers pre-draft process is in full swing

CHICAGO — Most of the 2023 NBA Draft prospects are at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago's Wintrust Arena this week. It is their chance to audition for teams, show off their skills, and meet with executives.

That stadium, as well as the attached hotel and convention center, are the center of the NBA world right now. Top prospects, including Brandon Miller, Scoot Henderson, and Amen Thompson spoke with gathered media members as they prepare for June 22nd's draft.

Often, prospects will share details about the pre-draft process that can be revealing about what they are working on, what questions teams are asking them, and how they are approaching the weeks leading up to the draft. Some of the process is similar for every player, but the little differences are what can be illuminating.

One intriguing storyline created from those interviews is which prospects are meeting with which teams. Of course, between the Draft Lottery and the NBA Draft itself, team's try to get the details on as many prospects as they can. But the early interview links are still interesting, especially given that each player has a different range they could be selected in.

The Indiana Pacers, for example, have the seventh overall pick, meaning any prospect who is connected to the top of the draft meeting with them is noteworthy. And more than one prospect confirmed a meeting with the blue and gold earlier this week.

One such player was Ausar Thompson from Overtime Elite. The guard-forward hybrid confirmed he has an upcoming meeting with Indiana as well as Portland, Orlando, Detroit, and Charlotte. He and his twin brother, Amen, are both projected to be selected inside the top-10.

"I feel like I've developed so much shooting-wise, IQ-wise, playmaking. Even [defensively]," Thompson said at the draft combine this week. He gave credit to Overtime Elite head coach Kevin Ollie, who is in the mix for the Detroit Pistons head coaching opening, for helping him on defense.

Jarace Walker was pretty sure he had a meeting with Indiana, but couldn't remember for sure. He is projected to go fifth overall in ESPN's latest mock draft. Some prospects meet with so many teams that it's hard for them to keep track. Positionally, he would be an excellent fit with what the Pacers need going forward.

A third prospect who could be selected within the lottery picks, Anthony Black, shared that he has a meeting schedule with the blue and gold. ESPN currently slots Black at eighth overall, one slot behind Indiana's first pick.

Black is a taller guard from the University of Arkansas, and he can do a little bit of everything. He can play many positions and could slot in as a point forward at the NBA level with his size, he was effectively a six-foot-seven-inch guard with the Razorbacks.

The prospect pulled out his phone to see his schedule and clarified that he was meeting with the Pacers on Thursday. He had several chats with teams during his trip to the Windy City.

"I bring a winning mentality. I play super hard. I don't have an agenda, I just want to win," Black said.

Many other prospects will meet with and work out for the Pacers in the coming weeks. G League Ignite's Leonard Miller, for example, said he has a meeting with Indiana scheduled. But these lottery prospects stood out at the combine and are names to watch for the Pacers going forward.

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