Jon Leuer was no stranger to Target Center while growing up in Orono.

"The KG days, yeah," Leuer said with a smile. "Really a fun atmosphere."

Leuer was back at the arena in a much different capacity Monday. Rather than a spectator, he was one of 12 NBA draft prospects working out for a host of team executives on the Timber-wolves' practice court.

Afterward, he shared a handshake with NBA Hall of Famer and Pacers President of Operations Larry Bird, then politely asked a reporter for directions back to the locker room.

In time, Leuer will no doubt have the inner road maps of NBA arenas down pat.

By most projections, the 6-10, 230-pound power forward is an early-to-middle second-round pick in the June 23 draft. Some even think he could sneak into the first 30 selections.

"He's right there, man," Wolves assistant GM Tony Ronzone said. "I think from this point on, these workouts for him are going to be extremely beneficial. When you interview the kid, he knows the game. Defensively he knows how to play, and if he picks and pops like he did this summer -- bingo -- someone's going to take him in that late first round."

Ronzone was referring to the select team made up of 20 college players that prepared Team USA for last summer's FIBA World Championships. Ronzone said Leuer was among select coach Jay Wright's favorites at the six-day training camp.

It's one of many accolades Leuer racked up during his college career at Wisconsin, a four-year tenure that culminated with him earning an honorable mention All-America nod this season after averaging 18.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for the Badgers.

All this from a kid who was maybe 5-9 and 90 pounds before his freshman year at Orono High School.

Really.

"Somebody told us he would grow and be a different kind of athlete," said Mike Leuer, Jon's father. "Boy, they called that right."

Jon Leuer blossomed to about 6 feet by the end of his freshman year, part of a 10-inch growth spurt over 18 months.

After high school, Leuer made an immediate impact at Wisconsin not so much for his size, but the skills he learned before he grew. Trained as a guard on the AAU circuit, Leuer possesses top-notch ball handling ability and a knack for draining long-range shots.

He shot nearly 37 percent from beyond the arc during his college career.

"Teams want guys who can shoot the ball," Ronzone said. "So a guy like Jon Leuer, he's got special talent right there and he's going to continue to show it."

Monday was Leuer's third workout after stops with Oklahoma City and last weekend's draft combine in Chicago. During the brief portion of Monday's session open to the media, Leuer made only half of the 26 three-pointers he attempted. That, though, came after a long day of interviews and an exhausting workout.

He has several more workouts planned between now and June 20 with at least 10 teams from Portland to Boston.

"People are saying I'm more athletic than they thought [and] that I can really shoot it," Leuer said, drips of sweat beading from his face. "All good so far."

Becoming an NBA player has been Leuer's lifelong dream. He's also trying to redeem himself from a less-than-stellar collegiate finale. In the Badgers' 61-54 Sweet 16 loss to Butler, Leuer managed only three points on 1-for-12 shooting and fouled out in the final seconds.

"I'm using it as motivation so it doesn't happen again," he said. "In my head, [the NBA] was my dream. I knew if I worked hard enough eventually I would get there [but] I was probably the only one who believed that. And I'm not going to let this opportunity slip away."