Corey Hightower and more on Primoz Brezec

[Thndrblt31@aol.com]

June 3, 2000  

Hopeful thinks he can step right in and contribute

by Phil Jasner
Daily News Sports Writer

 In his own way, Cory Hightower feels as ready and as experienced as anyone 
to step into the NBA.

"I really think I have God-given talent and I'm willing to listen," said the 
6-8 Hightower, who opted for the draft after two seasons at Indian Hills 
(Iowa) Community College and auditioned for the 76ers yesterday with 
Vanderbilt senior Dan Langhi and Ohio State junior Michael Redd.

"I feel I have as much talent or more than maybe both of these guys I worked 
out with today. Naturally, experience counts, but neither of these guys has 
experience in the NBA, so we'll all be coming in as rookies. With a good 
coach and solid people around, I'll be able to [make it]."

Hightower, who prepped at prestigious Mount Zion in North Carolina, averaged 
22.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 4.4 assists and 1.1 blocks this 
season. The 6-10 Langhi was the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year 
and the first Commodore to lead the league in scoring (22.1) since former 
Sixer Clyde Lee in 1965. The 6-6 Redd, a junior, is the first Ohio State 
player to enter the draft early since ex-Sixer Jim Jackson in 1992.

But Hightower didn't seem nearly as concerned with anyone else's resume as 
his own.

"I really believe I have pro talent, a pro game," he said softly. "That's 
what I went to school for, to provide for my family. [In high school] we had 
a lot of cameras, a lot of media, did a lot of traveling. I do have 
experience in those things. I've been doing it since I was 16. We did as much 
traveling at Mount Zion as we did in college, caught as many flights, were on 
as many road trips. It's really been like four years for me. I really believe 
I should be in the top 20."

The Sixers hold the No. 20 pick in the first round of the June 28 draft.

WHO IS THIS GUY?

 Primoz Brezec, 20, spent this season with B.C. Olimpija Ljubljana, a club 
team in Slovenia where he was a teammate of onetime Sixers draft choice Mark 
Milic. Thursday, as the 7-1 player worked out for the Sixers, was the 20th 
day of Brezec's first visit to the United States.

"At 20, to have that kind of feel and ability, it's pretty remarkable," 
Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "Those are the ones you hope stay in college a 
little while, get to mature, get to play.

"Watching a kid work out is a lot different than watching him play, but 
passing, catching, his ability to shoot and as quickly as he learned things, 
I think all that's in his favor. At 20 years, 4 months, that's [the 
equivalent of] going into his sophomore year in college. You can't make kids 
taller; he certainly has size."

SIX SHOTS

 Dan Langhi finished No. 7 in Vanderbilt history with 138 three-pointers, but 
Larry Brown said that wasn't necessarily a skill he was looking for. "We got 
Toni Kukoc and he never got the ball, so what does that matter?" Brown said. 
. .What is Brown looking for in the draft? "I want to get a kid who's 
versatile and athletic and wants to get better," he said. "He could be 7 feet 
or 5-10, it doesn't really matter". . .Brown, general manager Billy King, 
director of player personnel Tony DiLeo and the coaching staff will be at the 
league's predraft camp in Chicago Tuesday through Friday. Brown also hopes to 
have his end-of-the-season meeting with Kukoc during that time. Kukoc was 
unable to attend the May 19 closeout meetings because he was driving to his 
home in the Chicago area.