<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">TUALATIN -- The Blazers started workouts for potential draft selections by taking a look at a couple of local college stars. Oregon State's David Lucas and Portland State's Seamus Boxley were among four players the Blazers brought in for workouts at the team's practice facility Thursday afternoon. "I'd probably rate myself a 'B' or 'B-,' " Lucas said. "I think I did OK. I could have done a little more." The 6-foot-8, 246-pound Lucas averaged a team-leading 18.5 points and seven rebounds this season while helping the Beavers to their first winning season since 1990. Lucas said he might have to alter his collegiate game to find a spot in the NBA. "Everybody has been talking about me playing the three (small forward), so I've been making the transition -- facing up, shooting jumpers, three-pointers, ballhandling, stuff like that," Lucas said. "I'm working my way to the 'three-four' area." Blazers general manager John Nash said Lucas might be undersized to play power forward in the NBA. But Nash noted that Lucas was an All Pacific-10 Conference selection the past two seasons after starting his Oregon State career as a walk-on. "That's why you wouldn't want to suggest that he is at the end of this level of improvement," Nash said. "We've seen a lot of players that weren't highly regarded even in their senior years claw their way and scratch their way into the NBA. . . . (New York forward) Malik Rose isn't any bigger than these guys, and he's paid handsomely to play in the NBA." The 6-7, 220-pound Boxley was named the Big Sky Conference player of the year after averaging a conference leading 20.4 points. Boxley also averaged eight rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots, but realizes that he must work even harder to earn some recognition. "The truth is that a guy like me from Portland State -- it's not a real big university. You're going to have to work double, but I'm prepared to do that," Boxley said. </div> Source
