Yahoo Sports Draft prospect Ricky Council: I’ll be really comfortable with shooting within two years
Ricky Council was the leading scorer for a star-studded Arkansas squad which may see four players selected in the 2023 NBA draft. Projected to be taken in the second round, Council is an athlete who has the potential to grow into a solid three-and-D type of player in the NBA.
Council took some time out of the workout circuit to talk with HoopsHype about the pre-draft process, his collegiate career, his shooting, and more.
How have your pre-draft workouts gone?
Ricky Council: They’ve been good. I’ve had five so far. They’ve all been pretty good. All pretty much the same, but I’ve been good, though.
My first one was in Indiana. Didn’t know what to expect. Heard some things, but still really didn’t know what to expect. I actually have gotten better at each one. My best one being my most recent.
How was your experience at the Draft Combine in Chicago and was there anything there that took you by surprise?
RC: It was a good experience. All the best players obviously trying to get their name called June 22. It was a really good experience playing against the best guys from college and some guys overseas as well. So, I had a lot of fun, and it was a good week in Chicago.
I’ll say I was pretty prepared. I have a lot of good people in my ear that was giving me advice for the combine as well as the workout so I really want to say nothing, to be honest.
You transferred from Wichita State to Arkansas. What are some of the biggest takeaways from your time with Coach Musselman and the rest of the coaching staff?
RC: He taught all of us how to be a pro before we even got to that level, like just being on time. Not on time but extra early. When I was at Wichita [State], I would say that we could get there five to 10 minutes before practice and be fine. That was never the case at Arkansas. They expected at least 30 [minutes] to an hour early on a practice ready to go, getting shots up, or getting a sweat. Just being more vocal [on] offense and defense. Comparing that to Wichita State, I would say nothing the whole practice sometimes and I would have been fine. That was never the case at Arkansas, we would get called out. So just teach me how to be a pro and giving us little tips and advice to help us get to this level.
Are there any players’ game that you model yours after?
RC: No one for sure. I don’t watch people and monitor them, and try to play like them. I grew up watching Michael Jordan and it helps that we actually are the same height, but guys that I look at in league today, I would say Keldon Johnson because he’s around my height. Strong guy, swing[man], so I try to watch guys around my height with the same characteristics as me but I don’t model my game after anybody.
What parts of your game do you think will make it easier transferable in the NBA? And also, what do you think will be the hardest adjustment?
RC: I feel like my athleticism, getting down on transition, running the floor hard, getting easy twos, my dog mentality, just playing really hard on defense and playing hard every second I’m on the court… if that’s five minutes, two minutes, or 30 minutes, just give it my all on the court. I think that will make me a very likable teammate, and then for the coaches and the fans as well. So just get them all out there and play hard, I think that’s something that will translate at any level.
I’ve heard the game is much faster, but I’ve also heard it’s not. So I guess I’ll have to see about that. I literally heard both so I guess I’ll have to see when I get there. As long as I’m in shape I think I’ll be fine regardless.
I mean we did a couple of full-court games and it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t a full 48 minutes like in NBA games. So no, it wasn’t bad in the workouts, but we’re also not playing full games. And then for the combine, we’re only playing five-minute segments, so that wasn’t bad either.
The NBA is a lot more about spacing, whereas in college everything is more packed. Do you think that will help your style of play at the next level?
RC: Most definitely, I was able to get in the lane this year. I know the NBA courts are bigger just from being on these workouts. And definitely a lot more space… I keep hearing that over and over and over again. So just being able to get out in transition and just getting downhill off of closeouts and things of that nature. I know it will probably be a little easier to get in the lane but I guess the next problem is finishing over the more athletic taller guys as well.
What have you done to work on your shooting? Are there certain mechanics you’re focused on?
RC: Brought my lift down a bit, that was one of the first things I did. And then got my left hand off the ball more, so a more fluid shot, better rotation on the ball. I want to get those two things and was working at it for a couple of weeks, [and] it became a lot more comfortable and actually felt a lot smoother and look better as well. So that was what I was working on previously down in Miami. Even cleaned it up a little bit more since I’ve been here in Texas. So I’m feeling real comfortable with my shot right now.
Down the road in five years or so, what kind of level do you think your shooting can get to?
RC: I think it can get to a really, really high level. Definitely, I mean, why not say it’s going to be good like Steph[en Curry], but I highly doubt it. I have that type of confidence but I doubt it’s going to get that good, but just being able to hit catch and shoot threes at a very consistent rate. And then even when I’m more comfortable with scoring off the dribble and ball screens and coming off a curl space and things like that. I think I’d be really comfortable with that in the next I’ll say two years, if not the first.
Outside of shooting, what other parts of your game do you feel like you’ve improved on?
RC: I know it’s gonna be another level of physicality, but I’ve also heard I was going to be fine early because I’m already a strong guy. I’m definitely going to need to be able to get stronger, so eventually be able to guard one through five. I know that’s going to be hard. I’m pretty comfortable with guarding one through four right now. The fours are going to be a little more taller and stronger as well. Really a heavy position. So I’m just getting even stronger and preparing for that.
Looking at the landscape of the NBA, what teams, in particular, do you see yourself being a good fit for?
RC: I like Memphis, They young, got some athletic guys, and there’s a lot of dogs that are on the team as well. I like Miami, with that sense of a lot of underrated guys. A lot of undrafted guys as well that nobody really knew about coming up and then made their name obviously right now. There’s a lot of teams I like. I also like Nuggets, I feel like the past two to three years, I just like how they play, [Nikola] Jokic creates all the offense, and they play freely in that sense.
How do you see the careers going for your college teammates Nick Smith and Anthony Black?
RC: I think it’d be great for both of them. Starting off with Anthony [Black], really tough point guard, really intelligent, really smart. Hopefully, he’s placed on the team with some good vets who’s going to help him out even more, but he’s already very knowledgeable and probably has some good people in his corner as well. So I know he was going to be good at the jump.
With Nick [Smith], his dog mentality and his willingness to compete that will translate at any level like I was talking about myself earlier, so I know he’ll be fine. He’s a really good shooter, [and] athletic, I know he’s healthy now. So I think they will both be fine. I can’t wait to see what they’ll do.
