Following an outstanding showing at the NBA G-League combine in Chicago this week Miami basketball alum Dewan Hernandez has been selected to stay in the Windy City and compete at the NBA Combine through the weekend.
Dewan Hernandez was unfairly forced to sit out the entire Miami basketball 2018-19 season over a few hundred dollars. Hernandez’s outstanding showing at the G-League Combine earned him a spot with nine other NBA hopefuls who played well enough to earn spots at the NBA Combine through this weekend.
Bruce Brown and Lonnie Walker’s performances in the 2018 NBA Combine led them being selected in the NBA Draft. Brown was a second round pick, 43rd overall by the Detroit Pistons. Walker was the 18th overall selection by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.
Hernandez was projected to be the centerpiece of the Miami basketball team in 2018-19 with 5’7 point guard Chris Lykes. The loss of Hernandez in addition to injuries and the redshirt of backup center Rodney Miller led to the Hurricanes first losing season of the Jim Larranaga era.
Hernandez kept working hard during the season in hopes of being able to return at some point. The NCAA announced in February that Hernandez was suspended for the entire 2018-19 season and the first 20 percent of 2019-20.
Hernandez understandably announced shortly after that he was entering the 2019 NBA Draft. Associated Press Miami Hurricanes writer Tim Reynolds stated on Twitter that Hernandez “has gotten a lot bigger, stronger over the last year. Noticeable.”
Miami's Dewan Hernandez, who was at the G League Elite Camp in Chicago this week, hasn't been told yet if he's sticking around for the Draft Combine. "If I do, it's go time," he said. (Should be noted that he has gotten a lot bigger, stronger over the last year. Noticeable.)
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) May 14, 2019
Several national writers covering the G-League combine noticed how well the former Hurricanes big man had played. Jonathan Givony from ESPN and Sam Vecenie from the Athletic were among the national writers praising Hernandez’s play at the G-League combine.
Measurements were conducted on the first day of the NBA Combine on Wednesday. Hernandez’s official measurements have not been released. Hernandez is listed at 6’11 235 pounds on his official bio on HurricaneSports. The measurements are important but there is far more to the combine than that.
Per the Bleacher Report, the combine will be televised by ESPN Thursday and Friday from 3-7 PM ET. The schedule as published by Bleacher Report is below.
"“ScheduleDates: Thursday, May 16, and Friday, May 17Location: Quest Multisport in ChicagoTV Coverage: From 3-7 p.m. ET on ESPN2Stream: WatchESPNCombine Itinerary: Shooting drills, strength and agility drills, measurements, five-on-five games, team interviews.”"
Coverage of the NBA Combine will be on ESPN2 and the network’s streaming division ESPN3. Scrimmages, measurements and drills will highlight ESPN’s coverage. There will be a lot of commentary from ESPN analysts about how the combine participants will fare at the NBA level.
Hernandez has worked hard on his game during his year off. He is eager to get back out and show that he can compete at the next level. Hernandez put on weight in the last year and has reportedly improved the range on his jump shot. He should get a chance with an NBA team with his size and athleticism.