Queta Has Strong Defensive Game, Poor Offensive Showing In Day 2 Of NBA Combine
May 17, 2019, 5:21 PM
Jeff Hunter, Deseret News
CHICAGO, Ill. – After struggling in his scrimmage on Day 1 of the NBA Draft Combine, Utah State’s Neemias Queta had another weak performance in the second day.
Playing in front of NBA coaches, scouts and his college coach, Craig Smith, who was reportedly in attendance at the Combine, Queta finished his scrimmage on Friday with just three points and six rebounds.
His team of fellow aspiring draftees won the game 85-82, but Queta was tied for the worst plus-minus on the squad with a minus-12.
Neemias Queta (@nemi1599) of @USUBasketball talks to media postgame! pic.twitter.com/mYJp5AYhB3
— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) May 17, 2019
On a positive note, Queta, who was honored as the Mountain West’s Defensive Player of the Year, had a game-high four blocks. His performance on Friday was an improvement on Thursday’s game, in which he was held scoreless.
Prior to attending the Combine, Queta worked out for the Utah Jazz. According to the Jazz’s head of player personnel Walt Perrin, Queta “looked pretty good,” but added that he still has a lot of things to develop.
One thing that surprised me is that Neemias Queta's height measurement at the combine is a full 1.25 inches taller than his listed height at USU (7'0.25" at combine, 6'11" at USU). Usually if there's any notable difference, it's that the player is shorter than originally listed.
— Jason Walker (@thejwalk67) May 16, 2019
The big man from Portugal announced his intention to test the NBA waters in a post on Twitter on April 12. He has retained the ability to come back to Logan if he chooses to do so.
Queta has until June 10 to withdraw from the Draft. If he stays in past the deadline, he will not be eligible to return to Utah State for his sophomore year.
The NBA Draft will take place on June 20 in Chicago.
