Milwaukee Bucks Pre-Draft Workouts: Jarrett Allen visits for solo session

By Adam McGee | Jun 14, 2017

Feb 20, 2017; Morgantown, WV, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Jarrett Allen (31) dunks the ball during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

After a lengthy break away from the workout process in Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Bucks had Jarrett Allen visit their practice facility for a solo workout.

There may still be no full-time, permanent general manager in place, but on Tuesday, the Milwaukee Bucks finally returned to hosting prospects for workouts in Milwaukee.

As many fans and observers of the team will have noted, prior to Tuesday’s session, the Bucks hadn’t held a workout since the departure of former general manger John Hammond for the Orlando Magic.

What that doesn’t mean is that the Bucks haven’t been busy at work ahead of the draft. Vice president of scouting Billy McKinney relayed to Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the team has been busy at work since Hammond’s departure, even if it’s been in a less visible way.

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"“It’s been like it’s always been, really,” vice president of scouting Billy McKinney said Tuesday. “Just busy. With John leaving, my approach and our approach has been we still have the draft to prepare for. … We’ve had tons of agent workouts — Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles. We’ve had a very busy couple of weeks and now getting back it continues to be busy as we prepare for the draft.”"

Getting back to the structured and controlled setting of workouts in Milwaukee, the Bucks had just a single visitor for Tuesday’s session. Texas Longhorns’ big man Jarrett Allen was the only prospect in attendance at this workout, making him the first prospect to have a solo workout in Milwaukee this year.

While the solo workout is often viewed as a little more prestigious, Velazquez noted how it’s agents rather than teams who often dictate that setting, and McKinney went a step further by stating it’s the Bucks’ preference to see players in a group setting rather than an individual one.

"“We always like and prefer to see a player work out with a group of people because you get that opportunity to see if they can fight through fatigue in the three-on-three drill against other people,” McKinney said. “Getting pushed on by a player that’s in shape is different than getting pushed on by an assistant coach.”"

Without that option, the Bucks got to have an up close and personal look at the 19-year-old freshman.

In his sole college season, Allen averaged 13.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, while shooting 56.6 percent from the field.

Allen worked his way through the youth basketball ranks and entered college as a highly touted prospect, having been a McDonald’s All-American and a member of the US U18 National Team setup.

The Longhorns struggled last season, and as such, Allen may enter the draft slightly under the radar, but standing at 6’10” tall, with a 7’5″ wingspan, and a 9’1″ standing reach, there’s plenty of reasons why he will appeal to teams around the NBA.

The big question that many will have in regard to Allen or any other big man with the Bucks, is where they’ll fit in. The Bucks are already loaded with many of their most talented and highest potential players in the front court, but Allen gave a solid explanation to Velazquez of where he’d look to fit in.

"“Anywhere you go it’s always going to be a battle for playing time,” Allen said. “Here especially you have Giannis (Antetokounmpo), Thon (Maker), just a lot of people and then Thon can play the 4, Giannis can damn near play whatever position he wants. I can just fit in where they’re not at.”"

Next: Milwaukee Bucks Pre-Draft Workouts: Another Badger visits the Bucks

Draft workouts look likely to continue throughout the week, and check back in with us at Behind the Buck Pass for the details on all of the prospects who make the trip to Milwaukee.

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