SCU's Bryant might land in Europe

By Jon Wilner
Mercury News

Posted: 06/17/2009 09:16:05 PM PDT

Updated: 06/18/2009 11:13:51 AM PDT

Bryant, who graduated early (in March) with a sociology degree, spent most of the spring training in Los Angeles. He worked out against other draft prospects, including Louisville forward Earl Clark. He honed his mid-range jumper - it's essential for executing the screen-and-roll - and he got leaner. His body fat is 13 percent, down from 21 percent in March.

Represented by Bill Duffy, the former SCU player and one of the NBA's most influential agents, Bryant has worked out for Houston and Sacramento. (More workouts are scheduled.) He received encouraging feedback in Houston, where scouts compared him to Marc Gasol, the Memphis Grizzlies center who played in Spain for several years.

"He'll probably end up at the top level in Europe, but that's OK," Santa Clara Coach Kerry Keating said. "I think he's a year or two away from being effective at the NBA level.

"I tell the scouts I know, 'What if he was a sophomore? Would you be more interested then?' Because that's what John is. He's still learning to play. But he's big and he's skilled and he can rebound."

"Everyone's under the impression that there are only a handful of big men out there, and those guys are the only ones to look at," Keating said.

"But John is a great investment for a team for down the road."

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