Caner-Medley makes a strong case to NBA observers

	Nik Caner-Medley's offensive explosion in Orlando likely opened more than a few eyes of NBA personnel men. Win McNamee/Getty Images

ORLANDO -- Nik Caner-Medley has had games like this before, but none that could have so profound an impact on his professional basketball career. On Day 1 of the NBA Pre-Draft Camp, the Maryland forward had another one of those days, when his entire repertoire of offensive moves and shots were working, and that translated into a game-high 22 points and helped his team to a victory in the first of three games Wednesday at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

Hustle plays were in much greater supply than than skill plays Wednesday, although Jerry West told me several years ago that hustle in and of itself has become a skill. Here are some thoughts on happenings in the three games Wednesday and what they might mean in regard to the 2006 NBA draft.

Game 1: Team Six 80, Team Five 76

Caner-Medley unfurled an offensive arsenal that included a three-point shot, a leaner in the lane, a few smooth mid-range jumpers and a tip-in as well as five free throws. In all, he made 8 of 12 shots from the field and 5 of 6 from the line, delivering the most complete and productive offensive performance of the first day of play.

Caner-Medley hasn't gotten much attention in most mock drafts, and this performance alone is unlikely to catapult him to prominence. If he can add a couple more good showings over the next two days, however, Caner-Medley will likely get an increased number of invitations to workouts from teams during the last two weeks before the draft. That opportunity could lead to him working his way into serious draft consideration.

Some other modestly regarded players from Team Six came through with positive efforts as well. Curtis Withers of Charlotte, one of a large contingent of undersized power forwards in Orlando this week, showed off a good touch, both in hitting turnaround jumpers out of postups and draining a face-the-basket opportunity from 12 feet. Withers scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds in 22 minutes of play. Taj Gray of Oklahoma (10 points) wowed onlookers with a 360-degree spin move in the lane, which he finished despite contact for a three-point play. And Yemi Nicholson of Denver was opportunistic and efficient with his offensive opportunities, hitting 5 of 9 shots for 13 points. Ultra-aggressive Louis Amundson of UNLV picked up eight rebounds, six points and six fouls in 20 high-energy minutes.