<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Thomas, The Indianapolis Star Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2001, is widely regarded by NBA scouts as a second-round draft pick. He, however, is encouraged by the quantity and quality of his individual workouts so far. He originally was listed as an alternate for the Chicago camp but received an invitation based on those private sessions. He has made three trips to the West Coast, and rattled off 13 teams that have brought him in for workouts: the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, Golden State, Portland, Utah, Denver, Houston, Sacramento, Toronto, Miami, Cleveland, Detroit and New York. "I mean, I've been everywhere," he said. "Teams have been asking for me, and I'm in a spot where I can't say no to anybody." Thomas also has been working out at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., refining his body and his skills. Joe Abunassar, who directs the basketball program, compares him to NBA players such as Toronto Raptors guard Milt Palacio, a steady player who can run an offense. "I think his quickness is on a par with many NBA guards," Abunassar said. "Is he the fastest? Absolutely not. But can he guard? I think he can." Thomas has the same objective in Chicago that scouts have for him. "Prove he can run a team and do the things that a point guard has to do," Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said. That challenge becomes more difficult in the pre-draft camp environment, where teams are thrown together and chemistry is nonexistent at first. Thomas, however, has learned patience. "Everybody's playing hard and the more you hang out with each other and the better you get to know one another the easier it gets," he said. "The good players are naturally going to click."</div> Source