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Sixers work out Baylor's Taurean Prince, 5 others

The 76ers held pre-draft workouts Friday for six players, the highest regarded being Baylor forward Taurean Prince, but their biggest task remains whom to select at No. 1, where forwards Ben Simmons of LSU and Brandon Ingram of Duke are competing for the top spot.

The 76ers held pre-draft workouts Friday for six players, the highest regarded being Baylor forward Taurean Prince, but their biggest task remains whom to select at No. 1, where forwards Ben Simmons of LSU and Brandon Ingram of Duke are competing for the top spot.

Leading up to the June 23 draft, Sixers coach Brett Brown assured that the team would do the proper homework, a time-consuming task.

"It will be the man hours and time required that people would expect and deserve," Brown said Friday after the workouts at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. "This is a massive decision that comes with a lot of responsibility and will receive the time that is required."

Brown talked about meeting with college and high school coaches - and also team managers, scouts, former teammates and anyone who can provide insight into the two front-runners. "It it extensive and it should be," he said.

Baylor's Prince, a 6-foot-8 small forward who averaged 15.9 points a game, is projected to go 16th overall in a mock draft by Draftexpress.com. The Sixers hold the 24th and 26th picks in the first round.

"I wanted to show my versatility, that I can handle the ball in pick-and-roll situations and can play defense on different guys," Prince said.

The only non-senior attending Friday was 6-7 Clemson junior Jaron Blossomgame, who has not hired an agent and must make a decision by May 25 on whether to stay in the draft or withdraw. He is listed as the 51st player in Draftexpress.com's mock draft. Blossomgame also has workouts scheduled with San Antonio and Phoenix before the deadline.

"It's very tough [deciding], but I am trying to show these coaches and staff what I can do and leave a positive impression with them," said Blossomgame, who averaged 18.7 points. "It will make my decision a lot easier if I get the right positive feedback."

The one local entrant Friday was 6-8 St. Joseph's forward Isaiah Miles, who was named the Atlantic Ten and Big Five's most improved player after averaging 18.8 points and 8.1 rebounds.

Miles has worked out for Boston and Brooklyn and has workouts set up with Houston, Dallas, New York, Milwaukee, Utah, and San Antonio.

"I am definitely encouraged," Miles said about having so many teams wanting to evaluate him up close. "A lot of guys say they are tired and can't get themselves up for it, but I see it as motivation."

The other three players at the workout were Columbia point guard Maodo Lo, San Diego State power forward Winston Shepard, and Wichita State point guard Fred VanVleet.

Shepard averaged 11.3 points and 6.4 rebounds at San Diego State. He has worked out with another SDSU alumnus, Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs, the two-time reigning NBA defensive player of the year.

"I feel I can play defense like Kawhi," Shepard said. "I know that is a pretty big statement, but down the line I think I can be a pretty good defensive player like that."

Wichita State's VanVleet was the Missouri Valley Conference player of the year for the second time. This season he averaged 12.2 points and 5.5 assists. He played in 13 career NCAA tournament games, including a Sweet 16 win in his freshman year over La Salle.

The 6-3 Lo, who played for the German national team at the 2015 World University Games, averaged 16.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists last season for Columbia.

Carlesimo coming?

Sixers associate head coach Mike D'Antoni remains a candidate for the Houston head coaching job. A league source confirmed that P.J. Carlesimo is a strong candidate to replace him on the Sixers staff. Carlesimo and Brown worked together as assistant coaches in San Antonio. - Keith Pompey
mnarducci@phillynews.com

@sjnard