On the Beat: Ingram to Report for Monday Workout

PHILADELPHIA – With the NBA Draft less than two weeks away, business seems to be picking up.The 76ers have confirmed that when their series of pre-draft workouts resume Monday, Brandon Ingram will be in attendance.  The swingman from Duke is the highest-profile prospect to-date to schedule a visit with the organization, which is continuing on-going preparations to make the first pick on June 23rd.  In recent months, virtually every mock draft has projected that either Ingram or LSU forward Ben Simmons will be this year’s number one selection. Monday’s workout will mark the Sixers’ sixth at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and their first since June 2nd.  Last week, President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo was overseas, visiting Dario Saric in Istanbul, Turkey, and scouting this past weekend’s Adidas Eurocamp in Italy. Of note, Ingram will be the lone participant at Monday’s workout.  In each of the Sixers’ previous five sessions, there were six invitees.  Ingram is also the third projected first-rounder – along with Baylor’s Taurean Prince and Saint Joseph’s DeAndre’ Bembry – to come to Philadelphia this spring.Boasting a 6’9″ tall, 195-pound frame, and an ability to impact both ends of the court, Ingram cemented his status as one of this year’s top collegiate players thanks to a stellar freshman season with the Blue Devils.  The Kinston, North Carolina native finished the campaign sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring, with an average of 17.4 points per game, and ranked tenth in rebounding, pulling down 7.6 boards per contest.  Ingram earned ACC Freshman of the Year Honors, and landed an Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention nod as well. Of all the skills that Ingram put on display last season, it was his shooting touch – at his size – that left arguably the strongest impression.  More than half of Ingram’s total field goal tries were jumpshots, and he converted nearly 40.0 percent of those attempts.  In particular, Ingram was a major presence on the perimeter, nailing 80 triples, and ranking seventh in the ACC with a 41.0 three-point field goal percentage.  A month ago in Chicago, the Sixers, according to Colangelo, met with Ingram at the NBA Draft Combine for a private interview.  Two weeks later, on May 24th, Colangelo was part of a sizable Sixers contingent that travelled to New York City for a workout featuring clients of the Excel Sports Management group, the agency that represents Ingram.  SIXERS.COM PROSPECT PROFILE: Brandon Ingram”As you look at a Brandon Ingram, more of a shooter, silky smooth small forward type, probably can play multiple positions as well,” said Colangelo the night of the NBA Draft Lottery.  “I think you’ve got to look at his versatility, but the one thing that stands out is his ability to shoot the basketball above all else.”Come Monday, the Sixers will have a chance to better evaluate Ingram’s many talents up close.