Colorado State star David Roddy rides breakout season into Pacers' draft workout
INDIANAPOLIS — It was almost too good to be true.
Colorado State star David Roddy had seen this man countless times before. Now, they were in the same room during the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
"I had a meeting with the Clippers, and Jerry West is just sitting right next to me in the interview," Roddy said Friday at the Combine. "So I'm just like, 'Jerry West?' Like bro, you're on my shirt. That's the logo, so it was pretty surreal in that moment."
Roddy, 21, was honored to have a living legend evaluate his game with the 2022 NBA Draft on the horizon. The standout junior, who is projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick, has maintained his college eligibility. He has until June 1 to return to school, but with West and others interested in him, he may not have to.
Indiana, which has the No. 6, No. 31 and No. 58 picks in next month's draft, brought Roddy in for a pre-draft workout Monday. He was joined by Baylor's James Akinjo, Alabama's Keon Ellis and Marquette's Justin Lewis. UCLA's Johnny Juzang and Gonzaga's Andrew Nembhard were supposed to be there, too, but didn't make it due to weather-related travel issues.
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Roddy said the workout was adjusted since two players were missing, and Pacers assistant Jannero Pargo filled in during some parts. Regardless of being shorthanded, Roddy believes he displayed why he was the 2022 Mountain West Player of the Year.
"I like to show my defensive versatility and my physical nature, getting as many rebounds as possible." Roddy said. "As well as just my entire game — passing, dribbling, shooting, decision-making and just making strides in that. From freshman year to my junior year at Colorado State, I think I made pretty good strides, so hopefully I'll just continue that trend."
Roddy had a breakout junior campaign, highlighted by career-highs of 36 points and seven 3s in a win over Creighton. The 6-5 forward averaged 19.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 57.1% and 43.8% on 3s. He led Colorado State to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013 and highest AP ranking (No. 20) since 1954.
"It was a little bit of confidence, as well as a mental approach to the game." Roddy said of his noteworthy season. "I was really hard on myself my first two years and then kind of allowing myself to fail a lot my junior year was very important. And again, knocking down seven 3s against Creighton was kind of the stamp of approval of all of the hard work that I've put in, and after that really my confidence just kind of skyrocketed."
Perhaps another reason Roddy's career blossomed at Colorado State? It was the first time in his life he played just one sport. The Minneapolis native was a member of the basketball, football and track and field teams while attending Breck School and was named the 2019 Minnesota Male High School Athlete of the Year as a senior.
Roddy was also a finalist for Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football and claimed a state title in discus. He held multiple Division I scholarship offers on the court and field.
"After my senior football season, I kind of said, 'Hey, let's try to figure this out,'" said Roddy, who was a star quarterback. " ... I really just went with my gut with the relationships I had with the basketball coaches. Football schools, they offer 500 kids a year so it's very hard get a real relationship with any of the coaching staff. And yeah, went with my gut with basketball and now I'm here."
Roddy said he has at least two more workouts this week with Orlando and Milwaukee. Prior to the combine and other pre-draft evaluations, he spent time in Phoenix with renowned trainers Phil Beckner and Vaughn Compton, who have worked with Portland superstar Damian Lillard and Pacers swingman Oshae Brissett, respectively.
Roddy could join them in the NBA soon, though he's avoided looking at mock drafts.
"Just trying to be present as much as possible. That's what's really helping me," Roddy said. " ... Going into GMs' hotel rooms and having interviews with them and kind of the speed dating of the NBA. So really just enjoying the experience and, again, just understanding that not many people get to do this and so just being super, super grateful for this opportunity."
Follow IndyStar Pacers beat writer James Boyd on Twitter: @RomeovilleKid. Reach him via email: jboyd1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers draft: Colorado State's David Roddy headlines 2nd draft workout
