Marshall is still rehabbing an injured wrist that required a screw to be surgically implanted to stabilize a crack in his non-shooting wrist; however an elbow injury surfaced several weeks later that has slowed the recovery process.
“My wrist is close to 100%,” revealed Marshall. “I can pretty much do anything on the court with it. Again, the elbow is something that I didn’t find out about until a month later after complaining that it was hurting and finally getting an MRI. But that’s coming along as well. It is way better than it was two weeks ago, which was way better than it was a month ago. As long as I keep making progress I feel like I’m going at a good pace. “
Marshall is expected to attend this week’s NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, but is still not sure if he will compete in any of the drills. Marshall does plan to meet face to face with NBA teams and tell his story.
“I think that’s huge, first impressions,” explained Marshall. “They’ve seen you play obviously, they hear what kind of person you are but to actually meet with you face to face, that can be the difference between them taking you or not. I’m comfortable. I feel like I have a good reputation. I present myself well and I’m excited about it. “
In watching Marshall play five-on-five pickup games with other draft prospects and NBA players, it’s clear why Marshall is so highly coveted. He is a natural floor leader that never gets outside of his own game. He never forces the bad pass. Never tries to take shots he cannot make and is always in control.
“I feel like at the next level the main thing that you have to do is just find your niche,” said Marshall. “You have to find one thing that sets you apart from everyone else. “
“80% of the NBA averaged at least 15 points in college. They have enough scorers in the NBA so you have to find whatever you’re good at and become extraordinary in that area. In my case I’ve found early what I have to do, what I’m good at and it’s just a matter of taking that to the next level and being as good at that as possible. “
The one thing that Marshall exudes is a confidence in who and what he is as a player. It’s all too common in the draft process for players to let their ego run away from them. Marshall comes off surprisingly comfortable with who and what he is as a player at the next level.
“One thing I try to focus on is staying in my lane,” explained Marshall. “I’m not going to go into this fast lane and try to score 30. I don’t want to take a backseat to guys and not be the leader I know I can be. The main thing is just being in my lane, being at a steady pace and doing what I’m good at. “
“I still want to develop my game in the process. I still want to become a more consistent shooter, become more flexible, but a player like me, my game’s not going to change. I’m not going to show them anything new in these workouts, so if anything I’ll show them that I can shoot the ball a little bit better than what I showed throughout the season. Other than that I feel like I am who I am.”
Marshall is getting in three workouts per day at IMG and is just trying to let the draft process play out. One thing he has tried to do is keep the hype of being drafted out of his head, but that’s not always easy.
“You can’t help it.,” laughed Marshall. “It’s something that is constantly on your mind. It’s a crazy thought to think about. I don’t know where in the country I’m going to be living a month and a half from now. But to me that’s insane. The draft has taken so long to get here that all you can do is work hard every day and just keep staring at the calendar. Time is ticking extremely slowly but it’s part of the process so I’m just trying to enjoy it as much as possible. “
“It’s very surreal. I never really thought I had any type of opportunity to play in the NBA until the end of my freshman year of college when people were asking me if I’m coming back. I was like ‘what do you mean coming back? Where else would I go?’ It just never dawned on me that I was ready for that next level. My freshman year in college I’m having bets with walk-ons to see who scores more points in a game. To be at this point in my life to where I have a chance to live out my dream, playing the game that I love. I can’t even look at it as a job… it’s surreal. “
http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-am-ken...-the-playmaker