Kenneth Faried, a Newark native, trying to flash some offense at NBA draft combine

Faried.JPGMorehead State's Kenneth Faried celebrates after a play against Richmond in this year's NCAA Tournament.

By Chris Tomasson
For The Star-Ledger

CHICAGO — Scouts say Kenneth Faried can’t do much on offense. But he has a secret weapon.

That would be Faried’s dreadlocks, which fly all over the place. And there is no rule in the NBA about hair length.

“I have noticed that players do get intimidated because I swing my dreads and it sometimes hits them in the face,” said Faried, a graduate of Newark’s Technology High School and a forward from Morehead State. “A lot of NBA scouts say I can’t make post moves, so all I got to do is swing my hair and I can make some moves and go score the ball.”

Scouts will see how well that works at the NBA draft combine, which began Wednesday and runs through today in Chicago. The book on Faried is he’s a great defender and rebounder, having led the nation as a senior with a 14.5 average. But his offense is raw.

Nevertheless, the 6-8 Faried remains a confident guy. He’s expected to be a middle to late first-round pick in the June 23 draft at the Prudential Center.

“In the NBA, I could become a great offensive player,” Faried said. “I know when I get there I’ll be able to work there and get better because that will be my life.”

There’s no doubt about Faried being a great rebounder. He has been called the next Dennis Rodman.

Rodman, while in Chicago for Wednesday’s Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final between the Bulls and Miami, didn’t want to talk about Faried. But he’s apparently a big fan.

Faried was eating last month with his high school coach Dave Belleni when Belleni’s cell phone rang. Belleni answered and handed the phone to Faried, saying it was Rodman.

“I thought it was a joke,” Faried said.

It wasn’t. Through Rodman’s agent, the call was set up because Rodman, a seven-time NBA rebounding champion who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame later this year, was impressed with what Faried had been doing at Morehead State.

“(Rodman told Faried) that I rebound like him and a lot of people compare (the two),” said Faried, who did manage to average 17.3 points as a senior at Morehead State. “He had heard things about me (but said) just don’t be like him off the court. He gave me some real positive influence. Just be like him on the court and hustle. (Rodman said), ‘Don’t let anybody say that you can’t play (in the NBA). I was undersized. Don’t let that intimidate you … Play your heart out.’”

Faried, who averaged 12.3 rebounds in his four years at Morehead State, has had his share of Rodmanesque outings. One of his most notable came last November, when he pulled down 18 boards (to go along with 20 points) in a 61-55 loss at then 10th-ranked Florida.

“He has a knack for the ball and he’s very physical and very tough,” said Gators forward Chandler Parsons, who also is at the draft combine. “He’s one of the best rebounders I’ve ever seen. He’s just an absolute animal. He’s just relentless.”

Faried’s rebounding was even better in the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 15.0 in two games, including a 62-61 first-round upset of Louisville, a fellow Kentucky school that had beaten Morehead State in 24 of the 25 previous meetings.

“He imagines that every rebound that comes off the rim is his,” said Richmond forward and combine attendee Justin Taylor, whose Spiders knocked out the Eagles 65-48 in the second round.

With that in mind, Faried doesn’t hold back when predicting what he will accomplish in the NBA. He plans on his “high to be a 30-plus rebounding game.”’ He says, “I fully expect to one year to become the Defensive Player of the Year.”

As for his offense, that’s another story. But Faried is prepared to unleash his dreadlocks on the NBA.

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