Sixers to begin evaluating draft prospects

The 76ers have scheduled the first of many workouts in advance of the 2011 NBA draft, which will be held June 23.

On Saturday morning, the Sixers will evaluate six prospects during an hour-long workout at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. The Sixers possess a first-round pick, No. 16 overall, and a second-round pick, No. 50 overall, in the draft.

Saturday's workout will include three power forwards, two small forwards, and one center. According to ESPN.com's prospect rankings, none of the invited participants is a top 50 prospect, which means the workout will be focused solely on evaluating talent for the team's second-round selection.

The participants include Lavoy Allen, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Temple, and Rick Jackson, a Philly native and 6-9 power forward from Syracuse University. Vernon Macklin, from the University of Florida, rounds out the power-forward prospects. Small forwards Greg Smith (Dayton) and Tomislav Zubcic (Croatia) join center Greg Smith (Fresno State) in filling out the six-man workout.

Zubcic is the highest-ranking prospect according to ESPN.com; he's projected as the 59th best available prospect and 15th best available small forward. Zubcic, who is listed as 6-11, scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds at the Nike Hoops Summit, which is one of the premier events for evaluating international talent.