Suns interview Florida State talent Vassell
Team considering guard with 10th overall pick
Devin Vassell already has something major in common with Phoenix Suns general manager James Jones.
They both played for Leonard Hamilton.
So the two had plenty to talk about as Phoenix has done an interview with the wing player out of Florida State going into next week’s draft.
“I was able to talk to him and pick each other brains,” said Vassell as Jones played for Hamilton in college at Miami. “Good conversations.”
Vassell said during Zoom media interviews Thursday set up by the NBA that he hadn’t done an individual workout with the Suns.
Golden State, New York, Boston, Dallas and his hometown Atlanta Hawks have.
Still, Vassell could see himself blending well with the Suns. Phoenix has the 10th overall pick in the Nov. 18 draft as Vassell is a projected lottery selection.
“They have a young core,” Vassell said. “They have wiry players, very athletic. Get up and down the court. I think I bring to the table just my defense and energy.
Getting out in transition. Being able to spot up if Devin Booker or one of the key players is getting double teamed. They just need somebody in the corner. Being able to just help on both sides of the court and be reliable on the defensive end.”
The 6-7 wing from Suwanee, Ga., averaged a team-high 12.7 points last season on 49% shooting as a sophomore. Knocking down 41.5% of his shots from 3, Vassell averaged 5.1 rebounds, had 49 assists to only 23 turnovers, 42 steals and 29 blocks.
“Devin can do anything,” said FSU teammate Patrick Williams, who is also projected to go in the first round of next week’s draft.
“The way he works, he works relentlessly. Probably one of the hardest workers I’ve ever played with, ever seen. Honestly, I have no doubt that his transition is going to be successful. I have no doubt that he is going to be successful just because for one, he’s so talented on the court and then off the court, he’s just a great guy. He’s willing to work. When you’re willing to work, everything will work itself out.”
Vassell cleared up talk about a video that posted last month of him that makes it appears he’s changed the shooting motion of his jump shot. “I haven’t changed my jump shot,” he said. “I felt like there is no reason to change my jump shot. I think at the end of the day, it was the end of the workout and we were just shooting from a lot deeper from the regular NBA 3-point line and just think from the angle that she took it, I think it made it seem like I caught the ball (behind) my head a lot further than what I normally do, but I’ve never attempted to change my jump shot.”
Vassell said he’s been working out in a church gym in Atlanta as an NBA 3-point line was put on the court. He admitted some teams asked him about the video, but they all concluded Vassell didn’t change the mechanics of his jumper.
“The video came out and literally the next week, teams were able to come in and see,” he said. “If there were any questions and wanted to ask over the phone or over the cameras, but once you see it in person, you realize nothing changed. Everything is fine. It’s almost something I can laugh about now.”