By Keith Pompey/The Philadelphia Inquirer


It’s no secret that D’Angelo Russell and the 76ers have mutual interest.
Russell could become the lead guard the Sixers covet should they select him with their first overall pick in the June 25 NBA draft. It would also enable him to reunite with former high school teammate Joel Embiid and play with good friend Nerlens Noel.
Russell had what could be the first of many meetings with the Sixers brass here at the NBA draft combine.
“It went well,” he said of his interview. “They laid out a platform of what they are building. They are building an organization, and they definitely want me to be a part of that piece. So it was a great experience.”
The Sixers are guaranteed a top-six pick in the draft after finishing with the league’s third-worst record (18-64) this season. They have a 15.6 percent chance to get the top pick.
One league executive believes that Sixers might have to nab one of the top two selections at Tuesday’s draft lottery to be in position to get the former Ohio State standout.
“Any team that drafts me, I’m going to make the best of it,” said Russell, who averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in his lone season at Ohio State. “And me knowing those guys [Noel and Embiid], I feel like . . . the chemistry is there already with me playing with Joel in high school all the time on the second team in high school.”
The two were teammates at Montverde Academy in Florida during the 2011-12 season. Back then Russell was a high school sophomore and Embiid a junior. The center transferred to the Rock School, also in Florida, after the school year. Russell met Noel through close friend and former Kentucky guard Devon Booker. Booker is projected to go in the middle to late first round in the draft. Noel, who played at Kentucky during the 2012-13 season, is friends with Booker.
Former Kentucky post player Karl-Anthony Towns is projected as one of the top players to be taken in this draft. Just don’t tell that to Russell.
“I know I’m the best player in this draft,” he quipped when someone mentioned that Russell thought he was the best.
We’ll find out next month if the Sixers feel the same way if he’s available.
Defensive stopper
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s offense still needs some work. But his defensive skills are the reason why he could be selected in the middle of the first round of next month’s NBA draft.
And the former Chester High and Arizona standout knows it.
“Right now, I’ll say I’m a couple of steps ahead of my generation [on defense],” said Hollis-Jefferson, a 6-7 small forward.  “I’m playing chess out there and a lot of guys are playing checkers.”
He averaged 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals this past season at Arizona. The sophomore was a first-team all-Pac 12 selection.
The former McDonald’s All-American led Chester to the PIAA Class AAAA state titles in 2011 and 2012 and a second-place finish with 2013. The Clippers went 91-5 in his final three seasons.
Hollis-Jefferson’s athleticism, length and defensive ability would benefit the Sixers. His older brother, Rahlir, played this past season for the Delaware 87ers, the Sixers NBA Development League team.
The Sixers will work out former Arkansas small forward Michael Qualls, former Wisconsin-Green Bay point guard Kiefer Sykes and former Louisville guard Terry Rozier on Tuesday. Then they will work out former Academy of the New Church and Syracuse power forward/center Rakeem Christmas on May 26.
On May 8, the Sixers worked out former Florida shooting guard Michael Frazier II, former UC Davis shooting guard Corey Hawkins, former Colorado guard Askia Booker, former Oklahoma State small forward Le’Bryan Nash, former Tennessee shooting guard Josh Richardson and former UTEP small forward Vince Hunter.