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Pacers draft combine interviewee Kris Wilkes to return to school

By Tony East

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 03: UCLA guard Kris Wilkes (13) looks on during a college basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans on March 3, 2018, at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 03: UCLA guard Kris Wilkes (13) looks on during a college basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans on March 3, 2018, at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Pacers were pretty quiet at the NBA draft combine, and the only player they were confirmed to interview was a UCLA wing, Kris Wilkes. Hopefully they didn’t get too attached, because he is heading back to school.

The Indiana Pacers were pretty quiet at the draft combine. They laid low and didn’t let much info get out about their actions. It wasn’t clear who they were there to see or who they had done an interview with. But thanks to some excellent reporting from Vigilant Sport’s Scott Agness, we do know that they interviewed UCLA wing Kris Wilkes at the combine.

Wilkes has ties to the state of Indiana already, so the interview made for a pretty cool story. He went to high school at North Central in Indianapolis where he absolutely dominated. He was named Indiana’s Mr. Basketball in 2017 for his command of high school basketball in the state. It should be noted that of the last 10 Mr. Basketball’s, five have been first round picks, and there is still hope for Kyle Guy to make it six. Winning the award usually means big things to come.

Wilkes knows that, and that is what Wilkes told Agness. “I see myself as a first-round talent, if the teams don’t think so, I’ll go back to school and I’d kill it, and there wouldn’t be no options about it next year.”

Agness also broke the news that the Pacers interviewed Wilkes.

"Wilkes has met with the Pacers, Phoenix Suns, and Miami Heat. And he has more interviews Friday morning, including one with the Atlanta Hawks.“It’s my hometown,” Wilkes said of his conversation with the Pacers. “Just talking to them. I knew one of the guys — Jason Buckner, Manager of Scouting Administration — from friends. I knew him before and just talking to him, I got a feel for (everything).”"

Apparently, Wilkes caught the Pacers eye since they felt he deserved an interview with the organization. But hopefully, nobody got too attached to the idea of drafting him because it was reported today that Wilkes would be returning to UCLA for his sophomore year.

Wilkes seems excited about his decision:

https://twitter.com/kadw31/status/1001594068869120000

During his freshman season, Wilkes averaged 13.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. He will look to improve on those numbers as he attempts to grow his draft stock this coming season at UCLA.

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So, the only guy the Pacers had any connection to prior to the NBA draft won’t even be available to be selected. Maybe next year the Pacers and the former Indiana basketball star can unite forces, but until then, all we can do is wish Kris Wilkes the best of luck with his second collegiate season.

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