<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">PHOENIX ? Five years ago, Hassan Adams signed on to play college basketball at Arizona because he figured the Wildcats' up-tempo style would provide a suitable fit for his wide-open, run-and-jump, high-energy game. He was right. Now, Adams has another spot in mind for the next level: the Phoenix Suns, the NBA's prototypical run-and-gun franchise. "Definitely," Adams said after working out for the Suns on Saturday afternoon. "That's why I made the decision I did for college. You want to make sure you can fit yourself into their style. Phoenix is perfect. After watching them, I think I'd be another piece of the puzzle. It'd be great." Of course, Adams doesn't get to pick this time. Although Adams' athleticism, range and energy suggests he can find a niche as a defender in the NBA, it's still questionable whether the former UA star will command a first-round pick next month, much less whether he would fit into Phoenix's No. 21 or No. 27 spots. But Adams took a few steps toward making his case Saturday during drills with a trio of top-flight guards: Guillermo Diaz of Miami, Rajon Rondo of Kentucky and Daniel Horton of Michigan. David Griffin, the Suns' vice president of basketball operations, said the workout was purposely stacked with talented guards to test Adams' ability to defend them. Adams passed the test. "This group today was very deep and he was able to stick with Rondo, who's as quick as any point guard in the country," Griffin said. "It was impressive from his standpoint. "Hassan has to be as good as any perimeter defender in the country. We feel like Hassan can probably guard three positions (point guard, shooting guard, small forward) in our league. His wingspan is 6-9, his toughness and athleticism will allow him to guard some threes and his quickness will allow him to guard some ones. He may evolve into a stopper-type, two-guard defender." It's Adams' offense that could keep him out of the first round, where contracts are guaranteed for two years. Often best in the open court or at power forward at UA, Adams has to convince NBA scouts that he has the shooting and ball-handling ability to play on the wing. Adams shot just 26.2 percent from three-point range last season (31.1 over his four-year career) and was second in turnovers (69) only to point guard Mustafa Shakur. His shot-making ability, particularly, is something the Suns are especially concerned about. "For our system, (shooting) is not secondary," Griffin said. "There are teams who will carry a defensive stopper who may lack something offensively but our system doesn't allow for that. We're predicated on making open shots." Griffin said Adams did struggle somewhat with his jump shot toward the end of the workout, but he was impressed with virtually everything else. Not surprisingly, the supremely athletic Adams was most effective in what Griffin calls the "NFL combine'' part of the workout ? including measuring his vertical leap and wingspan. "He was absolutely outstanding, mind-numbingly,'' Griffin said. "He's ridiculous that way." But because the Suns have seen plenty of Adams on the court during his UA days, his time off the court with them was critical. The Suns took their prospects to dinner Friday night, to lunch Saturday and each one did a private interview with scout John Schmate. Griffin said the Suns are asking Adams to explain the court cases he's involved in ? on DUI and disorderly conduct charges ? while also generally learning more about him. "Getting to spend some quality time with Hassan and finding out what he's all about as a person is important to us," Griffin said. "It's important for all of these guys. It's probably the most valuable part of the workout process. We're a team built on character and unselfishness, so identifying that is probably our No. 1 priority." </div> Source
