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Former Michigan forward Mitch McGary waves at teammate Nik Stauskas after Stauskas and Glenn Robinson III announced their plans to enter the NBA draft during a press conference at Crisler Center on April 15, 2014.
(Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News)
CHICAGO -- In a back room at Quest Multisport, small circle tables housed the NBA draft combine's nearly 60 participants. They came in waves, about 10 at a time, and experienced -- or endured -- the media portion of Thursday's festivities.
Australian import Dante Exum and former college stars Julius Randell, Marcus Smart and Doug McDermott drew the largest throngs.
Had he walked in the same room, former Michigan forward Mitch McGary might have been able to charge for tickets. His highly unique and vexing circumstances -- playing only eight games as a sophomore due to a back injury that resulted in surgery and his declaration for the NBA draft amid facing a one-year NCAA suspension for failing an drug test in the NCAA tournament -- have turned him into a 6-foot-10 question mark.
McGary never walked in the room.
The one-time projected NBA lottery pick chose to sit out all aspects of the draft combine. While numerous prospects, including former U-M teammate Nik Stauskas, pulled out of basketball-specific activities (opting instead to only undergo official anthropometric measurements, strength/agility drills and team meetings), McGary decided not to attend at all.
Avoiding the combine entirely allowed McGary to sidestep an impending media crunch.
The decision not to take the court, meanwhile, came as little surprise.
McGary hasn't played since shutting down his sophomore season in December and undergoing surgery in early January. In his first interview since declaring for the draft on April 25, McGary told the Detroit Free Press on Wednesday that avoiding competition was a decision made by he and his agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports.
"Mark feels, and I do, as well, feel that I'm not 100 percent, and he doesn't want me to play unless I'm at 110 percent," McGary told the Free Press. "He doesn't want to reveal me to anybody until I'm 100 percent, and I feel as if I'm a couple weeks out. I plan to. I'm letting Mark handle a lot of it. I don't know who or when or what (teams). Right now, I'm just focusing trying to rehab my back."
While unanswered question still surround his positive test for marijuana during the NCAA tournament and what led to it, the most pressing issue regarding McGary -- as far as his NBA future is concerned -- is still his back.
No outsiders have seen McGary run or jump or play or do anything in between since pregame warmups in the tournament. That consisted of layup drills.
McDermott, the 2014 national player of the year from Creighton, has shared a room with McGary in Chicago over the past few weeks. The two were among a handful of players represented by Bartelstein to participate in workouts leading up to the combine.
According to McDermott, though, McGary was rarely on the floor for live action.
"Not a whole lot," McDermott responded when asked how often McGary played.
"He's trying to get back in shape because he took a year off, basically," McDermott added. "He's really trying to get into physical therapy, not as much one-the-court stuff, but doing certain (physical training) and underwater stuff to get that back feeling good."
Fellow former Michigan forward Glenn Robinson III said he hasn't seen McGary on the floor either, but noted, "It seems like he's doing a lot better."
Much of McGary's draft stock now hinges on individual NBA team meeting leading up to the June 26 NBA draft.
That is, if they occur.
On the same day McGary announced his move to the NBA, one NBA Eastern Conference scout speaking on the condition of anonymity told MLive that a failed drug test would not impact McGary's draft position. The real tests that matter will be performed on the 22-year-old's surgically repaired back.
"They'll definitely pick apart his back," the scout said, adding, "Backs are real tricky things and teams will want to be satisfied with their tests."
There is no guarantee those tests will ever occur, however. McGary is not obligated to accept invitations for NBA team workouts. He and his representatives could instead conduct their own medical tests, distribute the results to NBA teams and hope at least one franchise is satisfied with that and intrigued by his upside.
That all remains down the road.
Back in Chicago, McDermott said McGary was in good spirits during their time together, despite the scattershot end of his college career.
"He's a great guy to be around, just always in a good mood," McDermott said. "Obviously he's in a different situation right now, but he's going to be great in the NBA. He's worked out with us a little and he looks great."
McGary told the Free Press that he leaned on McDermott while in Chicago to "learn a few things" and "stay focused."
"I was in college for four years and I have a good feel for people," McDermott said. "I'm trying to get him to eat a little healthier to lose some of that weight and I he's already lost 15 pounds, so I guess I can be his nutritionist some day if he ever needs me.
"I'm trying to be a role model for him -- just leaving the room at the same time, always communicating and making sure he's always doing the right things."
Brendan F. Quinn covers University of Michigan basketball and football. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on Wolverines hoops. He can be contacted at bquinn@mlive.com