Word out of the Dominican Republic is that the Nets have invited two of the D.R.'s best players to a mini-camp next week at the HSS Training Center. The two are both members of the Dominican national team, which Kenny Atkinson has coached the past two years.
The two are...
--Rigoberto Mendoza, 23 ,a 6'3" shooting guard who has played in the D.R., Spain and Puerto Rico. Known for his explosive scoring, Mendoza has played with the Dominican Republic national team the past three years. Just three days ago, Mendoza scored 50 points in a Puerto Rican league game. He was 12-for-12 from two point range and 6-of-12 from three.
--Juan Jose Garcia, 27, a 6'7" power forward has played the last six years in Spain, most recently for CAI Zaragoza and Basquet Manresa. More of a rebounder than a scorer, Garcia has been mostly a bench player the last several years in Spain, but a contributor to Atkinson's D.R. national team that has featured Al Horford and Charlie Villanueva, among others.
In addition to Atkinson, the D.R. coaching staff included Jordan Ott, who the Nets reportedly have hired away from the Hawks.
The mini-camp, which reportedly begins June 6, is likely to feature other international players whose responsibilities overseas are ending. Among the other names reported on social media are U.S. players who spent last season overseas including McKenzie Moore, a 6'6" shooting guard who played at UTEP and spent this season in New Zealand; Aaron Thomas, a 6'6" shooting guard who played at Florida State and spent this season in Germany; and Kwame Vaughn, a 6'3" combo guard who played at Cal State Fullerton and spent this season in israel, where he was named to the All-Europe FIBA Cup.
In draft workout news, Alex Kennedy reports that Isaiah Whitehead, out of Seton Hall and Brooklyn, will have his Nets workout sometime after June 15, or a week before the draft.
Isaiah Whitehead is working out for the Nuggets on June 10 and the Pistons on June 15. He'll work out with the Bulls and Nets shortly after.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 3, 2016