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Temple's Wyatt preps for an NBA career

Unsure of prospects in NBA draft, Khalif Wyatt has worked hard since Owls’ season ended, to give himself the best chance.

Temple guard Khalif Wyatt. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)
Temple guard Khalif Wyatt. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)Read more

ON MARCH 24, Khalif Wyatt walked off the hardwood in Dayton, Ohio, knowing he did all he could to help Temple advance in the NCAA Tournament.

The Big 5 Player of the Year scored 31 points in a 58-52 loss to top-seeded Indiana in the third round of the East Regional, putting an end to his prolific career as an Owl. His focus turned to making sure he could do everything possible to help himself in the eyes of NBA scouts.

The Norristown native has been working on his game ever since, in hopes of getting drafted tomorrow night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Wyatt, who averaged 20.5 points in his senior year, has been aiming to raise his game to the NBA level scouts want to see.

He has been working with Impact Basketball in Las Vegas, whose notable alumni include the Celtics' Kevin Garnett, the Clippers' Chauncey Billups and onetime 76er Elton Brand. The 6-4 guard knows what he needed to work on at Impact.

"Getting in better shape," Wyatt said. "Being quicker, stronger and faster. Just pretty much working on my body."

As of Monday, Wyatt said, he had worked out for 11 teams, including the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards and his hometown 76ers. He said his skills are not what the teams tell him to keep working on until the draft.

"They question me on how my body has changed," Wyatt said. "The last time they saw me was against Indiana, and they say I look good. They tell me to keep working on my body, and we'll go from there."

His body shape and lacking athleticism have most NBA teams wary of his ability to transition from college to the highest level of basketball. While he does have an upside on the offensive end of the floor, his ability to keep up with the pace of the NBA is in question.

"Wyatt intrigues people, because he is clearly a talented scorer, one of the most talented, in my opinion, of anyone in this draft," said ESPN NBA Insider Chad Ford. "The utter lack of athletic ability is what really haunts him. He's got such an old man's game in a certain way, but if you can't guard anybody in the NBA, if you are going to have a hard time getting by people, you're not an elite shooter, then all that stuff you did in college does not really translate to the NBA."

Ford added: "I think he is a guy that will probably be frustrated on draft night, but what he has to do is pick the right summer-league team, pick a team with a hole, and go out there and perform and get that contract. That's what matters."

One team with plenty of holes is the Sixers. They went 34-48 last season, falling substantially short of expectations. With a new general manager in Sam Hinkie, the Sixers will try to turn things around.

Growing up in the Philadelphia area, Wyatt watched the Sixers. He said his workout with them was his best so far.

"The Sixers workout was cool," Wyatt said. "I played really good. I met the new GM. Things went really well with them."

The Sixers have a recent past of signing local stars to contracts to test the waters. Last season, the team signed ex-Villanova and Roman Catholic High School star Maalik Wayns after he went undrafted. Wayns was on the team until mid-January, though he did not see any significant playing time.

"It would be awesome," Wyatt said, of getting a shot with the Sixers. "Growing up a Sixers fan, watching Allen Iverson and stuff like that, it would be kind of unreal."

The Sixers could take a shot on Wyatt if he goes undrafted. Wyatt is being realistic about his draft chances, and keeping his focus on working on his game even more.

"I don't have any [expectations]," Wyatt said of the NBA draft. "I'm just going to control what I can control and do my best in these workouts. I'm going to show people I'm an NBA player, and let the chips fall where they may."