UTEP’s Tim Floyd talks about what Julian Washburn, Vince Hunter could bring to an NBA team

As college players embark on the next phase with the NBA Draft, UTEP basketball coach Tim Floyd stopped by ABC-7 to talk about his former players, Julian Washburn and Vince Hunter.

“I think it’s really great for those two young men who did what we asked them to do,” Floyd said.

“He has the size for his position – he’s 6-foot-7-and-a-quarter. As a two guard, he can post smaller guards,” Floyd said of Washburn. “His 3-point shooting went from 19 percent as a freshman to 38.6 percent as a senior. So he showed steady improvement with the ability to make a perimeter shot.”

While Washburn has improved his offense, Floyd believes Washburn could make a living thanks to his defense, calling him “absolutely the best defender I ever coached.”

“And I really believe deep down that he has a chance to make a club. I know the team that won it had great guard play and they needed somebody to guard Steph Curry on that other team. You have somebody to guard Clay Thompson on the other team. I think Julian is the one guy in this draft capable of doing that,” Floyd said.

Hunter, who left UTEP after his sophomore year, is 6-foot-8 and weighs 208 pounds. He plays small forward.

“Well, Vince is a guy that you don’t have to run anything for,” Floyd said. “Vince is just going to go break out of an offense – and I mean that in a complimentary way. He’s a dysfunctional player – I mean that complimentary in that he can break out of an offense and get his own shot. Sometimes that’s good, sometimes not so good.”

Watch the full interview with Floyd at http://bit.ly/1TQhcUs where he breaks down what each player brings to an NBA team.

ESPN’s Chad Ford has the Sixers taking Hunter with 37th pick, while Sports Illustrated ranked the top 60 NBA prospects with Hunter coming in at No. 55.

“While Hunter certainly has the body and physical tools to succeed in the NBA, his decision to enter the draft after just two college seasons is an intriguing one. He’s not guaranteed to be a first-round pick and doesn’t have a defined position at the next level even though he put together an impressive collegiate career. If Hunter can show teams an improved outside jumper and make his way into the late first round, he’ll prove his decision to come out was smart. Otherwise, he may be a very popular draft-and-stash candidate in the second round,” SI wrote about Hunter.