ISL interviews ex-Purdue star Hummel before Friday workout with Pacers
By CLIFF BRUNT
ISL Editor
Former Purdue forward Robbie Hummel is scheduled to work out for the Indiana Pacers Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. He talked with Indy Sports Legends Thursday about how he’s been preparing for next week’s NBA draft.
Hummel has had a tough road to get to this point.
Two separate ACL tears in his right knee forced him to miss the end of the 2009-10 season and all of the 2010-11 season. He returned this past season and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection after averaging 16.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. Hummel finished his career ranked ninth in school history with 1,772 points, fourth with 862 rebounds, fourth with 216 3-pointers and seventh with 112 blocks.
Q: Where have you been since this process began?
A: I’ve been everywhere. I started out in San Antonio and Oklahoma City. Then I went to Minnesota draft workout, which every team was there. Then I went to New York, the combine – that was in Chicago. Then I went to Cleveland, and then Portland, Utah, Sacramento and I just got back from Miami. And now I’m in Indiana.
Q: What have the workouts been like?
A: “Really, the travel has been a lot harder than the workouts. The travel is really what gets to you. The workouts are pretty much pretty standard. Some do conditioning stuff, some don’t. For the most part, it’s a lot of shooting, some one-on-one, two-on-two or three-on-three.
Q: How is the knee? You’ve been so many places and done so much. It’s not giving you any trouble, is it?
A: I feel good. I think my knee is strong and it’s held up. I’ve been lucky. My knee is strong, and I think it’s held up. It’s been everything I could hope for. Literally, this is like playing another season, with the travel and all the workouts.
Q: Do you expect to be drafted?
A: I think we’re looking at the second round. I’m confident that I will be drafted now. I think I’ve performed pretty well at these workouts. Maybe high 30s, 40s or low 50s. Anything can happen on draft night, so I hope I’m lucky enough to be selected.
Q: How much have you spoken to JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore about this process?
A: I’ve talked to both those guys. If I had a question about a workout, they could answer. The workouts have been pretty similar unless they’ve had turnover in their organization. They’ve been good for me in terms of giving me advice on what to look for. They’ve been very helpful.
Q: What are you weighing about now?
A: I weigh 218 pounds. That’s been pretty consistent throughout the entire process from the spring into the summer. I was working out at St. Vincent’s with Greg Moore, who is the head strength guy there, and it was good. It was a very positive experience. I really liked being there. Basketball-wise, coach (Ed) Schilling, he’s the head coach at Park Tudor High School, did a good job with him there.
Q: Are you nervous?
A: (Short pause) “As of now, no. I really feel like I put in an effort that’s really good. I feel like I’ve done everything in my power to get selected. Right now, I’m not nervous. I’m sure it will be a different answer next week.
Q: Have you heard anything about Lewis Jackson? Do you think he has a shot to make it in the league, even though he’s under 6-foot?
A: I think Lewis will have a chance to make it somewhere. With his basketball IQ and the way he gets guys involved, he definitely can be an asset for a team.
Q: Has Coach Painter been involved in this process at all?
A: “I talk to Coach Painter a lot. He helped me pick my agent (Brad Ames). He sat down at every presentation, took notes and observed and kind of gave his opinion of what he thought. He came and watched at the combine. He’s been very involved. It’s been good to have him around.
Q: What’s it like not having to worry about school anymore?
A: “It’s kind of weird. It’s been kind of nice to not have to worry about homework and tests and all that, but it’s been a strange adjustment because I’m so used to being in school mode, but now, this is really my job.
Q: You were always good on the wing, but you showed post skills last season for the first time. How important has that been in your pre-draft process?
A: “I think it’s a huge asset. I think anytime you can score the ball in different ways, it just makes you more attractive. When I first got to Purdue, I had zero ability to score the ball at the post unless it was a layup. The coaches at Purdue did a very good job of developing that. I’m sure at times, they were a little bit frustrated with the fact that I was so raw at that, but coach (Paul) Lusk really harped on posting up, especially after my sophomore year when teams starting using guards to guard me.
Q: How does it feel to be in this position, given all you’ve gone through?
A: “I feel great. There was a time when I was a little bit unsure if it would materialize and progress, but I think going through those times makes it more of a sweet feeling to be on the cusp of being drafted by an NBA team. It’s something I’ve wanted since I was a little kid.
