Knicks interview multiple NBA Draft prospects, including UConn's James Bouknight

With the NBA Draft just about a month away on July 29, the annual NBA Draft Combine is underway in Chicago from June 21-27 with 69 potential players participating in front of NBA teams.

The Knicks have two first-round selections in the 2021 NBA Draft, picking at No. 19 and No. 21 overall, in addition to an early second-round pick at No. 32 overall. Teams get the opportunity to interview players at the NBA Draft Combine, as they try to figure out who would be a good fit on the team.

One of the players that the Knicks have interviewed is UConn guard James Bouknight, according to the New York Post's Marc Berman. The 20-year-old was born and raised in Brooklyn and made sure the Knicks knew where he was from. He played high school basketball at La Salle Academy in Manhattan, before reclassifying down and transferring to MacDuffie School in Massachusetts. 

In 15 games during the 2020-21 season with the Huskies, Bouknight averaged 18.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He showed the ability to create on offensive and score the ball consistently, including a 40-point performance against Creighton on Dec. 20, 2020.

The Knicks have also interviewed Florida State's Scottie Barnes, according to Berman, who is regarded as a top-10 pick in the draft. The 6-foot-9 Barnes is just 19-years-old and averaged 10.3 points, 4.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game over 24 contests (seven starts) in his lone season of college. He has a 7-foot-2 wingspan and the makings of an ideal two-way player in the league.

Another top prospect that the Knicks have interviewed is guard Jaden Springer from Tennessee, according to NBC Sports' Chase Hughes. Springer doesn't turn 19-years-old until September 25, and averaged 12.5 points per game with 43.5 percent shooting from three in 25 games (15 starts). He's viewed as a top-20 pick after helping the Volunteers to an 18-9 record in 2020-21.