Miami basketball alum Dewan Hernandez could rise into NBA Draft second round

After missing the 2018-19 season, Dewan Hernandez’s can put the past nine months behind him with the NBA Draft on Thursday night. Hernandez is on the fence with the potential of being drafted.

In spite of missing the entire 2018-19 Miami basketball season, Dewan Hernandez was one of a select group of college and international basketball players invited to participate at the NBA Combine in Chicago in May. Hernandez has since worked out for a handful of NBA teams ahead of the draft.

Hernandez was slated to be one half of the cornerstone of the Miami basketball team in 2018-19. Hours before the Hurricanes season opener last November Hernandez was declared indefinitely ineligible. It was not until February that Hernandez was given a suspension that would keep him out for the rest of 2019.

Hernandez’s NBA Draft stock has been rising since his performance at the NBA Combine. He had to earn his way into the combine after initially performing in the NBA G-league combine. Hernandez’s performance at the G-league combine was exceptional. That earned him a place in the NBA Combine.

Hernandez’s measurements and performance were among the best in Chicago. Canes Warning highlighted his combine stats last month.

Dewan Hernandez combine measurements: 

• BODY FAT % 6.10% (Third Lowest among centers)
• HAND LENGTH (INCHES) 9.50 (second)
• HAND WIDTH (INCHES) 10.25 (third)
• HEIGHT W/O SHOES 6′ 9” (sixth)
• HEIGHT W/ SHOES 6′ 10.25” (sixth)
• STANDING REACH 8′ 11” (eighth, last)
• WEIGHT (LBS) 232.8 (fifth)
• WINGSPAN 7′ 1.75”(eighth)

Hernandez Strength and Agility Drills:

• LANE AGILITY TIME (SECONDS) 11.46 (5th among centers)
• SHUTTLE RUN (SECONDS) 3.25 (second)
• THREE-QUARTER SPRINT (SECONDS) 3.30 (second)
• STANDING VERTICAL LEAP (INCHES) 30.5 (second)
• MAX VERTICAL LEAP (INCHES) 35.5 (second)

Hernandez has worked out for several teams ahead of Thursday night’s NBA Draft. The Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns have all brought Hernandez in. He was reportedly a standout in Philadelphia.

Phoenix would be an interesting destination for Hernandez. Miami basketball alum James Jones is the new General Manager for Phoenix and entering his first draft as the top player personnel executive for an NBA franchise.

Jonathan Wasserman of the Bleacher Report is the highest on Hernandez among media outlets mock drafts. Wasserman projects Hernandez to the Knicks with the 55th pick overall in the second round. Wasserman likes Hernandez’s upside. He gave a brief synopsis of the former big man for the Miami basketball team.

"“Hernandez was ruled ineligible this year, but he was one of the most productive players at the G League Elite Camp and NBA combine. He’s big, mobile and tough inside.”"

Philadelphia senior vice president of player personnel Marc Eversley discussed his impressions of Hernandez with the Philadelphia Inquirer.

"“Hernandez, on the defensive end, was pretty effective. He has great timing, is a terrific athlete, is real bouncy; he has great length. It was the first time we saw him in a while, and I thought he performed really well”"

The 76ers project Hernandez as a natural power forward who can play center in a small ball lineup. Ahead of last season, Miami head coach Jim Larranaga stated that Hernandez had improved his range to the three-point line. In the modern era of the NBA that is essential. Hernandez would seem like a good backup to Joel Embiid.

Sam Vecenie of The Athletic has Hernandez much further down on their big board of potential NBA Draftees than Wasserman does. Vecenie ranks Hernandez 93rd out of their 100 players rated. With only two rounds in the NBA Draft that would necessitate Hernadez signing with an NBA team as an undrafted free agent.

Vecenie’s colleague at The Athletic, Brooklyn Nets beat reporter Michael Scotto gave a scouting report on Hernandez. Scotto reported that the Nets do not disclose the players who they bring in for workouts like other NBA teams. Hernandez unofficially was brought in by Brooklyn.

Scotto detailed that Hernandez was brought in for a workout by Brooklyn last month via his sources. Hernandez was summarized by Scotto.

"“Hernandez, formerly known as Dewan Huell, was a former McDonald’s All-American in the class of 2016. He missed last season after the NCAA denied his appeal for eligibility.Despite missing last season, Hernandez turned his G League Elite Camp invite into an NBA Draft Combine invite and ranked second among centers in max vertical leap (35.5 inches)  Due to his NBA size and added strength, Hernandez intrigues some scouts because of his versatility at the four and five positions.”"

Former Miami star Sheldon Mac (he was known as Sheldon McClellan with the Miami basketball program) spent 30 games with the Washington Wizards during the 2016-17 season after going undrafted in 2016.

The NBA Draft begins at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN on Thursday night at the Barclay’s center in Brooklyn. The second round will start about two to two and a half hours after the draft begins. For Miami fans interested in seeing if and when Hernandez will be selected that is likely the best time to tune in.