The young Kevin Knox eager to enter the NBA

Kevin Knox is the second-youngest player in the NBA Draft. He is eager to make his immediate impact in the NBA Draft process.

At some point, while Kentucky Wildcats forward Kevin Knox was in the Amway Center for his workout with the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, Jonathan Isaac greeted him with a hug and some words of encouragement.

The two versatile wing players were on the same AAU team and the circuit around the draft workouts very much has a collegial feel to it. There is a lot getting thrown at these players and a little bit of comfort — whether it is a familiar face or being an hour away from where you grew up — can help ground things.

Jonathan Isaac had been giving advice to Kevin Knox as he prepared for this draft and his chance to hear his name called. That will happen. But first comes the job interview.

These young players — in Knox’s case, just an 18-year-old with one year of college under his belt — have a lot riding on the outcomes of their few precious hours inside NBA facilities.

All before that big day on June 21. He has had a short time to prepare. But plenty of preparation.

"“Coming in as a freshman, the intensity that [John Calipari] coaches with, you have to be able to match it playing at Kentucky,” Knox said. “You learn how to grow real fast being able to play under pressure, playing in front of ESPN and all the millions of people watching you play. Right away, you learn how to play and learn to play under control with everyone on your back. You go to Kentucky knowing there is a lot of pressure. And that helped me grow throughout the season.”"

Knox has had a lot to prove in a short amount of time.

He joined the vaunted Kentucky program and made an impact there pretty immediately, averaging 15.6 points per game and displaying a solid transition game and a developing outside shot. He was not one of the Wildcats’ super freshman, but a solid player.

Kentucky finished the season in the Sweet 16. He scored 25 points in the Kentucky Wildcats’ first-round win over the Davidson Wildcats.

Knox said he expects to land somewhere in the top 10 in this year’s NBA Draft, with workouts with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks on his schedule. But at the least, he is a surefire lottery pick.

It all becomes more impressive when you consider he is the second-youngest player in this Draft, behind only Jaren Jackson Jr. He went to Lexington as a 17-year-old. And, even more impressive than that, he had offers to spend his “gap year” in China playing professionally.

Knox opted to stay close to home, saying he wanted to experience the college game — Big Blue Nation, the fans, the NCAA Tournament and the college lifestyle — before taking his next step to the NBA.

He was always destined for that. His one year in school showed the potential he has and the ability waiting to come through.

"“I just learned how to play through it,” Knox said. “I knew I wasn’t going to be able to get held back. I just wanted to make sure that I came out and competed everywhere I went. Kentucky helped me out a lot to grow as a person and a player. I’m the second youngest player in the Draft this year, it doesn’t mean anything. That’s not an excuse. I put my name in the Draft for a reason because I think I’m ready. My age has nothing to do with it. I’m just going to go out there and compete and play hard.”"

Knox showed at Kentucky what a gifted scorer he could be. He attacks the basket well in transition. And he has positional versatility too. At 6-foot-9, he is comfortable on the perimeter and could switch to almost any position theoretically.

Knox’s outside shot is still a bit of a work in progress. He made just 34.1 percent of his 3-pointers last year. He was better on the ball than working off the ball. And even on the ball, he seemed to settle for jumpers if he could not break down the defense.

Kentucky tends to cover what some players can do. Knox said he felt he had to work off the ball more with Kentucky and said he can do a lot more on the ball. That will be part of what teams are looking to explore in these workouts.

Knox has a lot of inherent skills and his length and versatility make him valuable, but he remains a bit of a project. That is to be expected from one of the younger players in the Draft.

But age is just a number, not an excuse. Now is the time to prove what he might one day become and what he can continue to grow to be.

Things just cannot come fast enough. Especially for someone who has experienced so much success so soon.

"“It’s a long process,” Knox said of waiting for the Draft. “It’s a lot of traveling and flying back and forth. It’s a fun process at the end of the day. I’m having fun traveling and meeting new people every day. I’m doing really well in my workouts. Like I tell everybody, I wish it would go a little bit faster. I’m ready to get it over with. I’m ready to get drafted and get to the dream where I want to be. But it’s a fun process. ”"

Next: 2018 Orlando Magic Offseason Manifesto: The NBA Draft

That process still has a few more weeks to go. And Knox still has a long way to grow to reach his endgame.