GREENBURGH, N.Y. — One thing Jeremy Hazell can do is shoot. And the 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Seton Hall said he did exactly that during Tuesday’s workout at the Knicks Westchester campus. “I think I made all of them,” Hazell, a Harlem native, said in reference to taking 25 college and 25 NBA 3-pointers during the workout. “Yeah, I was lights out today. “And it just felt great being at home. It relaxed me, it calmed me because I’ve been away for so long. So coming back here playing for the Knicks, my dream team, I know I had to show what I can do, and I think it did it today.” Hazell and 6-9 Florida senior forward Chandler Parsons were among those who worked out for the Knicks, who own the No. 17 pick in the June 23 NBA Draft. They don’t own a second-round pick, but can opt to buy one. Hazell scored more than 2,000 points at Seton Hall, but missed out on surpassing Terry Dehere as the program’s all-time leading scorer because he missed 13 games with a broken wrist. He was also the victim of a shooting during a robbery attempt gone bad on Christmas Day. Hazell then missed an opportunity to showcase himself at the Portsmouth Invitational in April because his wrist was not completely healed. “This year I broke my wrist, the shooting, I missed [13] games so I was off the radar,” he said. “I didn’t go to Portsmouth because I hurt my wrist, so a lot of people wanted to see me but they couldn’t. So right now I’m just trying to build back up and get to where I was three years ago, and it’s taking a long time right now but I think I’m coming along great.” Now he says his wrist “is back to 100 percent.” Hazell has worked out for Golden State, Sacramento, Phoenix and Memphis and has the Nets Thursday and Minnesota June 18. “I got great feedback from both of his workouts so far with Golden State and Sacramento,” Hazell’s agent, Seth Cohen, said by email. “They both shared with me that he is an incredible scorer and can get buckets at will, and that there is always a place in the league for a scorer of his caliber. “There is no question that after everything he has gone through the past year – he deserves it as much as anyone.” Hazell believes he could fit in well with Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire. “They like to get up and down, same thing with my coach at college and I think they need a shooter,” he said. “I’m a great shooter, so I think I can fit into this system real well. I’m just hoping that I get an opportunity.”
Hazell said he’s working on getting stronger and on improving his defense. “Everybody know I can score with anybody,” he said. “I’ve just got to show I can lock down and put like 15 more pounds on and I’ll be alright.” If Hazell isn’t drafted, he said he would be willing to spend a year in Europe — something he may have to do anyway if there’s an NBA lockout. “That would be my next option if I don’t get picked,” he said. “I would definitely go overseas, that would definitely be my next option. So I would have no problem going over the waters.” Parsons, the reigning SEC Player of the Year, is projected as an early second-round pick. He has already had 12 workouts and said it’s been “a grind.” “I think for being 6-9, 6-10, I’m very versatile for my position,” said Parsons, who averaged 11.3 points and 7.8 rebounds last season. “I’m a small forward that can play multiple positions and guard multiple positions and just use my high basketball IQ and my passing and my shooting ability to make people better.” Parsons said he’s picked the brain of former Florida and Knicks standout David Lee, and believes he could help the Knicks. “[Mike D’Antoni] is a great coach and this is a great organization,” he said. “I think I can help them a lot with his style of play and his coaching, I feel like I’d fit in great.”
