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Phoenix Suns Pre-Draft Workouts: Day 5 - Forwards anyone? Prince, Blossomgame, Uthoff

Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

The Participants

  • Clemson F Jaron Blossomgame
  • Memphis F Shaq Goodwin
  • Maryland F Jake Layman
  • Baylor F Taurean Prince
  • New Mexico State F Pascal Siakam
  • Iowa F Jarrod Uthoff

Jaron Blossomgame

Measurements via DraftExpress:

DraftExpress Top 100 Prospects Ranking: 51st

You could say that Blossomgame's game has  -- in a word -- blossomed (sorry), during his time at Clemson. The redshirt junior has gone from an undersized power forward with a heavy reliance on his athleticism to a combo forward with a better than average shooting stroke.

It will be important for Blossomgame to develop a tighter handle in order to be a potent threat when attacking closeouts, but there is something here for sure. I couldn't help but be impressed with the showing he had in the shooting portion of today's workout.

Shaq Goodwin

Measurements via DraftExpress:

DraftExpress Top 100 Prospects Ranking: Not Ranked

A load of a big man, the four-year forward from Memphis has some juice in those legs as most remember him for being the dude that got t'd up for bringing the Vince Carter elbow slam back from the ashes:

It is unfortunate to see that Goodwin is not within DraftExpress' rankings, as I got the impression that he is a diligent worker from what I was exposed to in the workout. Some obvious limitations were showcased with his shot -- electing to never venture beyond the elbows in all drill. That is unlikely to fly around NBA circles.

But man ... We will always have that elbow-in-the-rim slam.

Jake Layman

Measurements via DraftExpress:

DraftExpress Top 100 Prospects Ranking: 49th

The initial thought when you see Layman is that he is going to be a lumbering big man with a solid stroke to stretch a defense. But then he breaks out into a sprint, unleashes a vicious leap and boom -- there is nothing lumbering to him at all.

At Maryland, Layman found a role as a role player, utilizing a versatile skill set that had him moving all around the floor. He is bouncy, and will use a long wingspan to compensate for any mistakes made on the defensive end. The look of his shooting stroke is fluid when given the proper time and the requisite footwork in place.

Teams will not be thrilled with Layman's age (22) in comparison to other prospects, but still expect his name to be called sometime during the second round.

Taurean Prince

Measurements via DraftExpress:

DraftExpress Top 100 Prospects Ranking: 18th

Everything you need to know about Prince is right here.

Pascal Siakam

Measurements via DraftExpress:

DraftExpress Top 100 Prospects Ranking: 54th

Siakam falls under the scope of underclassmen that are still trying to decipher whether or not they should officially make the jump to the NBA, or stay for another year at their respective program. The deadline -- as referenced in-depth here -- is tomorrow, meaning that Siakam will be consulting with friends and family about this life-altering decision in the near future.

A surprisingly personable guy, Siakam projects as a nimble big with a long wingspan to bother shots at the rim if given reign to roam. DraftExpress did a good job of breaking down his performance against stiff competition at Baylor earlier this year.

Take notice of his footwork along the baseline, defensive chops, and knack for making simple, yet quick reads from the post.

Jarrod Uthoff

Measurements via DraftExpress:

DraftExpress Top 100 Prospects Ranking: 61st

Last, but not least, we have Uthoff, a stretch four-man with a compact shot and strong scoring instinct. During his final season at Iowa the 23-year-old notched an impressive 18.9 points per game on 45 percent shooting. He was asked to do a lot as a go-to option during his senior season, but figures to be nothing more than a spot-up guy in the NBA.

It is difficult to envision a world where the 214-pound prospect will be able to bang with heavier bodies at the next level, thus putting him on the bubble when it comes to hearing his name called in late June.

That's a wrap on day five ... Stay tuned for more pre-draft workout coverage later in the week!

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