"When he was here the first time, I thought he thought it was more like college and came and got a lot of shots up, didn't play hard all the time," Jones said.

"It's amazing how much more of a student of the pro game he is now to back then," Jones added. "Having said that, that really speaks a lot to one, the Boston Celtics and what he's been around. And two, to the validity of this league."

Fredman added: "He knows he needs to play to get better. And I think he was excited to come down here and play."

Pruitt had a good thing going at USC in being its second-leading scorer in 2006-07. This season could have risen his draft stock by getting the chance to team with national phoneme O.J. Mayo.

"I did think about staying and playing with O.J.," Pruitt said. "Me and Nick Young (Pruitt's teammate with the Trojans who was picked in the first round by the Washington Wizards) were kind of thinking the same thing, and we decided to come out together in the same year."

Jones said that Pruitt is one of the few who could leave school early and ready for the NBA, at least on some levels.

"There's very few I felt like are ready emotionally to come out," Jones said. "There are several skill-wise that are ready to come out. But I think there are a lot who come out that aren't ready emotionally or skill-wise. Maybe have the potential. One thing Gabe does have is the skill-set."

Waving off the notion that Mayo's individual play could have hurt him, Pruitt said any additional notice that USC would get only would have NBA teams notice him more.

"He would have brought more attention to our team and allow to do what I do, which is play basketball and get the attention as well," Pruitt said.

With that potentially on his plate for his senior year, Pruitt thought now was the time to make the move to the NBA.

"I thought it was the right time, and I had pretty good workouts," Pruitt said. "The stuff I was hearing was pretty good and positive. I thought I had a good chance, and I don't regret coming out at all early. I came down to a good spot and a good opportunity."