5/15/2023 basketball Edit

How did Caleb McConnell, Cliff Omoruyi fare at NBA G League Elite Camp

Chris Nalwasky • TheKnightReport

Beat Writer

Note: This post was updated at 8:30 a.m. on May 15.

Former Rutgers forward/guard Caleb McConnell, and current rising senior center who has two years of college eligibility left, Clifford Omoruyi, competed at the NBA G League Elite Camp over the weekend inside Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill.

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The G League Elite Camp (GLEC) has acted as a springboard for prospects trying to make the pro ranks. With a good showing, a player could be invited to the NBA Draft Combine which runs from May 15-21.

Forty-four prospects were split into four teams for the GLEC. McConnell was placed on Team 3 and Omoruyi on Team 4.

The two went head-to-head on Saturday in a scrimmage, and then they played another game apiece on Sunday.

Omoruyi was Second Team All-Big Ten by the media and First Team All-Big Ten Defensive Team in 2022-23. He was also First Team All-MET and was a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award which is given to the nation's best center after starting all 34 games and leading the game with 13.2 points and 9.6 rebounds to go along with 72 total blocks and 20 steals.

McConnell was a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and took home the Lefty Driesell Award, a national DPOY honor. This past year, he had career-highs with 9.1 points and 5.5 rebounds. He also registered a career-high 86 assists and 71 steals to become Rutgers' all-time steals leader.

See how they did below.

Neither McConnell or Omoruyi received an invite to the NBA Combine which takes place this week.

SUNDAY

On Day 2 on Sunday, McConnell's Team 3 squad beat Team 2, 83-75. The game looked like it was going to be a blowout as Team 3 led Team 2 by 28 points, but Team 2 cut it to a one point game late before Team 3 pulled away.

McConnell had a +/- of 0 on the day. He had just two points on 1-of-7 shooting, but he pulled down five rebounds and had two assists, and no other stats including turnovers in 16:44 off the bench.

Like a day earlier, McConnell struggled on offense shooting the ball, but has value as a versatile defensive stopper.

In the second game of the double-header, Omoruyi's Team 4 lost to Team 1, 92-87.

Omoruyi had a much quieter day than he did on Saturday. Omoruyi, in 17:29, recorded three points on a 3-pointer from the top of the key. That was the only shot he took. He also had three rebounds, a steal, and two turnovers and finished with a plus-3.

Earlier in the day, all the participants went through measurements and testing.

Omoruyi measured in at 6-foot-9 without shoes and 243 pounds with a massive wingspan of 7-feet-6.25. His hand width was 11 inches and his hand length was 9.5 inches with just a 6.6% body fat. Omoruyi had a 33-inch vertical jump, a 3.391 second vertical shuttle left, a 3.242 shuttle right, a 3.38 3/4 court sprint, and an 11.76 pro lane.

McConnell came in at 6-foot-5.5 without shoes and a 198.8 pounds. He had a wingspan of 6-feet, 8.5 with an 8.50 hand dimension width and length to go with a 7.4% body fat.

Testing wise, McConnell 36-inch max vertical leap, a standing 30-inch vertical, and had one of the best left (3.113) and right shuttles (2.985) compared to everyone there. He also timed in at 3.35 in the 3/4 court sprint and had a 10.91 pro lane.

SATURDAY

Team 4 defeated Team 3, 86-81. The full length game is the first video while highlights are the second video. Team 3 led 40-39 at halftime.

Team 4 had a 13-point lead at one point while Team 3's biggest advantage was 12. The contest was tied eight times.

In 18:35, McConnell scored three points on 1-of-6 shooting. He was 0-for-3 from 3-point range and made one foul shot in three attempts. He did not have a good offensive performance shooting wise, but he did have three rebounds, two assists, just one foul. McConnell turned the ball over twice and was minus-12 for the game, second worst on the team.

Omoruyi saw the floor for 21:04 and was minus-14, but he registered 12 points on 6-of-7 field goals. He was 0-for-2 from the free-throw line. Omoruyi pulled down six rebounds (three offensive, three defensive), and had one steal, four fouls, and four turnovers.

Both McConnell and Omoruyi started.

Scouring through social media, each Scarlet Knight helped their case.

Global Scouting listed McConnell and Omoruyi has Game 2 standouts. McConnell had a sequence where he hit his tough fadeaway jumper out of the post on the baseline before almost stealing the inbound pass.

Teams love his defensive versatility and are just looking for a little bit of offense out of him.

Omoruyi displayed his athleticism with his slam dunks. He also appeared to do well off pick and rolls in the game. Word is he has a great shot at being invited to the NBA Combine which is a step in the right direction for him. Scouts are intrigued.

Should he continue to do well on Sunday and then partake at the Combine, Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell could start sweating a bit.