Jerian Grant likes the idea of playing with George Hill, Pacers

As a projected lottery pick, Jerian Grant could fall where the Indiana Pacers can select him in next month's NBA draft. So on Monday, Grant, the 22-year-old point guard from Notre Dame, tried to convince the Pacers to choose him during the team's first pre-draft workout at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

"I just wanted to come out here and compete," Grant said. "Play as well as I can and just show my playmaking ability and knock down some shots."

In total, six prospects — Grant along with three other guards Olivier Hanlan, Cameron Payne and Joseph Young, and interior players Rakeem Christmas and Richaun Holmes — ran drills, learned basic action like the popular NBA play "Floppy" and competed in 3-on-3 games while the Pacers' coaching staff and front office watched.

Among the first bunch, Grant had the best name recognition. Even though his father, Harvey, played 11 seasons in the NBA and younger brother, Jerami, currently plays with the Philadelphia 76ers, Grant earned respect with his own body of work at Notre Dame. As a senior, Grant averaged 16.6 points and 6.6 assists in 37.1 minutes per game.

His Fighting Irish team advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, nearly upsetting top-seeded Kentucky, but Grant's potential game-winning 3-pointer missed wide at the buzzer. That shot notwithstanding — he admits he has thought about it since the tournament — Grant made only 43.6 percent from the floor during his collegiate career and now works to become a better shooter before the draft.

"Consistency with a jump shot, that's what I've been working on (during) the offseason," Grant said. "Getting up a whole lot of shots a day, really just playing my game and getting stronger, getting faster."

Near the end of the workout, current Pacers point guard George Hill, dressed in his own practice gear, sat in the tunnel leading to the court and watched. Playing alongside Hill, who also has flourished as a scoring lead guard, would seem a good balance in Grant's eyes. Grant views himself as a combo guard who can play without the ball as well as operate at the point of attack.

"I think I bring a lot of playmaking skills. Get guys better looks and just making the guys around me a lot better," Grant said. "It's something that will definitely fit my game, being able to play with George Hill, play on or off the ball; it's something that I've done my whole career so I feel like I'll fit in right away."

During a portion when reporters were allowed to watch the workouts, the games appeared to be heavy on screen-and-roll action that tested the decision making of the guards. Coach Frank Vogel organized the run of plays with assistants Dan Burke, Nate McMillan and Popeye Jones also overseeing on the court.

"It went well," Hanlan said. "I just love the way coach does things; he interacts with each of his players, and he really speaks it well. That's one thing you want in a coach. He broke it down the way he wanted it and how he wanted it played. The shot clock goes quick."

For many of the prospects, Monday represented their first private workout with an NBA team. While players would hardly cop to having nerves while performing in front of an audience that included Pacers' scouts, front-office personnel and of course Larry Bird, one moment crystallized the bizarreness of it.

After the workout as Payne rehashed his career arc to reporters, Bird walked by the scrum and briefly interrupted to pat Payne on the shoulder and flash a thumbs up sign.

"Good luck," Bird told him as Payne reciprocated with the gesture.

As Bird walked off, Payne lost his train of thought, paused and asked the reporter to repeat the question.

"It's definitely inspiring to be in the gym with a Hall of Famer and right now, he's not criticizing you, he's not going in on you at all," Payne said, responding to a question about playing in front of Bird. "He's there encouraging. Honestly, man, it's a blessing to be here and a blessing to see him in the stands. It's just things you dream of, so I love it."

Call Star reporter Candace Buckner at (317) 444-6121. Follow her on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.