Dick Harmon: Jimmer Fredette has a chance to impress NBA scouts

PROVO — What will surprise NBA scouts the most this week when they probe, test, measure and time BYU's legendary college scorer Jimmer Fredette?

His trainer knows. He's known for more than a decade.

Fredette didn't hire an agent to introduce him to a stranger in preparation for next month's NBA draft. He didn't need to go to Arizona or a sweat camp in Los Angeles with a high-priced specialist. Fredette trusted his training to the man he credits for everything he's done in nurturing his physical abilities: His uncle Lee Taft, a conditioning coach in New Castle, Ind.

Fredette will join 54 prospective draftees this week at the NBA Combine from Wednesday through Friday at the Attack Athletics Facility on the West Side of Chicago. While there, Fredette will surprise people, predicted Taft.

The surprise?

"I think it will be his athleticism, and they will be very surprised with his quickness and his speed," said Taft two days before he left to participate in athletic training clinics in Helsinki, Iceland, Chicago, Las Vegas and Kansas City.

Taft predicts when Fredette does the three-quarter-court sprint, he will post one of the fastest times, just like he did a year ago at a New York Knicks workout where his time ranked in the top three among prospects.

That was after a season of illness and a bout of mononucleosis. This year he's increased his measurables by an average of 3 percent, said Taft.

"The agility drills they do, he will be very efficient with it.

"People say that he's not fast or quick or athletic. No, he is very athletic. He is very quick. He is extremely gifted in the way he moves. He doesn't have a lot of hesitation in his move and they will be very impressed with his quickness."

Taft should know. Professionally, he is known as The Speed Guy. It is his specialty. He runs the Lee Taft Speed Academy in New Castle (sportsspeedetc.com).

All those moves Jimmer has? Taft started working on the efficiency of Jimmer's body movement when the nation's leading college scorer was just 5 years old. That's when Jimmer's fast-twitch muscle fiber in his calf muscles, his quads, hips and waist began to develop under Taft's tutelage.

That, along with DNA and talent, made Fredette almost unstoppable in 2011.

"It's a little surreal when you see this little boy that you used to pick up and hold and rock to sleep and now he's the leading scorer in the country," Taft said right after the NCAA Tournament.

Talk about Jimmer's cross-over, his retreat-step-back move, his explosion past defenders and stretch to the rim? His acceleration and vertical jump? It's all part of Taft's science in increasing Jimmer's multidirectional wizardry, quick lateral movement, balance and agility.

Taft once worked with tennis star Pete Sampras, and he trained University of Butler basketball star Zach Hahn at the local high school.

"He worked with my footspeed, acceleration and explosiveness," Hahn told his hometown newspaper in Indiana. "He taught me a lot about footwork, mechanics and proper positioning. He really helped me a lot. I could tell a big difference after I worked with him."

Since Jimmer's season ended with a slight tear in his calf muscle during the Florida game, Fredette has spent time with Taft refining techniques and training for the combine.

The day after saying goodbye to his nephew last week, I spoke to Taft in Indiana and he declared Jimmer ready for Chicago.

"Jimmer grew up around me, and we've been fortunate to have each other. It's a pleasure for me to work with him," said Taft.