If there’s one thing you can’t question about Admiral Schofield, it’s his confidence in himself. That was on full display during his last two years with the Vols, and he showed it again in a recent interview when asked why NBA teams should consider selecting him early in the upcoming 2019 NBA Draft.
Schofield sat down with the media company Stadium to discuss why NBA teams should consider picking him earlier than he’s projected to go in the upcoming draft. The First-Team All-SEC guard from Tennessee didn’t run short on reasons, listing everything from his work ethic to his high character both in the locker room and off the court.
“Admiral Schofield is gonna come in every day and work hard. He’s gonna be the first one in the gym and the last one to leave,” Schofield said of himself. “He’s going to be a guy that’s not about causing conflict but about bringing more comradery within the organization. But also, once he gets on the floor, he’s gonna go at anybody. Anybody you put him on, he’s going to try to defend and slow down as best as he can. The league has the most talented players in the world, so just to have an opportunity like that, I’m a player that feels blessed. I don’t feel obligated to anything. I just need an opportunity.
“I feel like my abilities and my character will show for itself. The opportunity is going to be given by you guys. So, if you’ll be willing to have me, I’ll be willing to work and be willing to win.”
Right now, most NBA mock drafts have Schofield pegged as an early second-round pick. On NBADraft.net, Schofield is projected as the No. 36 overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets in the second round, and he’s predicted as the No. 44 overall pick to the Atlanta Hawks in Tankathon’s latest mock draft. Interestingly, both Kyle Boone and Gary Parrish of CBS Sports have Schofield as a first-round selection. Boone projects the 6-foot-6, 240-pound wing will be taken with the 25th overall pick by the Portland Trailblazers, and Parrish has Schofield going No. 23 overall to the Indiana Pacers.
Schofield was one of 66 players and three Vols to receive invites to the 2019 NBA Draft Combine. He’s one of only five college seniors who received an invite to the annual event as well.
As a senior this past season for the Vols, Schofield had his best year as a Vol, averaging 16.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 47.4 percent overall from the floor and leading the team with a 41.8 percent shooting percentage from three. His efforts earned him First-Team All-SEC honors and an honorable mention for the Associated Press’ All-American teams.
In his Tennessee career, Schofield appeared in 132 games and made 94 starts. He finished his career as one of only 18 Vols ever to score at least 1,500 points in a career. Schofield accumulated 1,570 points in his UT career and average 11.9 points a game. He also brought down 704 rebounds, and he’s one of only seven Vols in UT history to total 1,500 points and 700 rebounds in a career.
The 2019 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago begins on May 14th and runs through May 19th. The 2019 NBA Draft will take place on June 20th.
