There generally aren't too many surprises in store for NBA executives when they gather for the NBA pre-draft process. They're getting to know players they haven't talked to, finding out more about the guys they've been watching on tape, but legitimate surprises are pretty rare.

This year, there was a sure-fire, jaw-dropping shocker waiting for the teams who reached out to Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair. He stepped off the NCAA court for the last time a few weeks ago weighing 315, but weighed in on Thursday at a svelte (and chiseled) 276.

"I've just been trying to get in shape and get my body right," said Blair, who has spent the past month at IMG Academies in Brandenton, Florida. "Get my conditioning up and get my game right. Work on aspects that I didn't have. Try to polish everything around. . .I'm going to try to stay around there (that weight). I'm going to keep doing what I do, keep doing the same things. I'm trying to become a force and make a lot of teams happy."

Of course, losing weight is one thing . . .keeping it off is another. Blair understands what he needs to do and is determined to continue doing the things that helped him get to where he is today. He says weight will no longer be an issue for him.

"That's what a lot of people say, 'weight can be an issue' but I'm not going to let that be an issue, knock on wood. I like the way my body looks, I like the way I feel and I'm going to keep it up. I want to stay healthy and I'm addicted to the weight room now, that's all I do. . .It's both dieting and workout out. My nutritionist is on my hard, no more candy bars or fried chicken. There's a lot of things I don't eat. I'm trying to keep this diet on high protein, low carbs, to try and stay in shape that way. It's been pretty good."

While Byron (don't call me "BJ") Mullens is probably going to be labeled the steal of the draft, the surprise of the draft may well be Blair. Already slated to be a top 15 pick before he made his entrance in Chicago, there's talk that Blair may now be a lottery pick. It's a long way from where he was when he first hired agent Happy Walters, when many said he made a mistake by declaring for the NBA draft.

"That's just something that the people that just wanted to see me back in college again say or thought I wasn't ready for it. There are a lot of different things people could have went from. I think I'm ready for it; I'm trying to adjust to it and the NBA life. It's going to be great. Like I've said before, if your dreams are in front of you, why not go and reach for them? You never know what could happen. My dream was in front of me so I reached and grabbed it and I'm holding onto it tight. I'm not going anywhere."

Despite standing just 6'7", Blair was hands-down the best offensive rebounder in the NCAA this season, and some have called him the best offensive rebounder in the history of college hoops. In 35 games with Pittsburgh, Blair averaged 12.3 rebounds per game - 5.6 of them on the offensive glass. To put that in perspective, Dwight Howard led the NBA with 4.3 offensive rebounds per game. NCAA rebounds aren't NBA rebounds, but it's an impressive stat nonetheless. Blair believes he can be among the best rebounders in the NBA.

"No," Blair said firmly, when asked if there was a better rebounder in the Draft.  "I mean Blake (Griffin) was good. I think I was the best offensive rebounder by far. I don't think anyone was better than me at rebounding in this class at all. There's something about that ball that just gets me excited, so I go get it."

Blair wants to make sure people understand what he brings to the table: toughness, toughness, and more toughness.

"Toughness, the will to do anything they need me to do, and a hard worker. I'm a hard worker on and off the court. That's what they're going to get. I think a lot of teams in this draft are looking for toughness and you're looking at it. This draft's going to be interesting. . .I just got that from when I was younger playing against older players being from my neighborhood and coming up in hardship. I came from nothing, and when you come from nothing you have to work your way around and be tough. There's a lot of things in Pittsburgh that people don't know about. Pittsburgh is tough period, if you can survive through there you can survive through anything."

Surviving anything, to Blair, also means he can handle banging against the bigger NBA players in his quest to dominate the glass. It's a challenge Blair can't wait to tackle.

"I love going against taller players because it brings my toughness out and I can be physical. If it's someone smaller than me as you seen in college dropping down with a foul and I'm out. I can't wait to go to the NBA because everyone is big and huge. It's a physical game and I feel like I'm stepping into home."

Blair is equally at home in the middle of a media firing squad, handling the pressure with the style and grace of a 10-year NBA veteran. His smile, his personality, and his mentality to dominate bear a striking resemblance to Elton Brand, a player he also favors in appearance.

"I love to smile because God woke me up this morning," beams Blair. "He woke me up for a reason, to go out there and have fun and do what you do. You gotta have a personality. I love to have fun with the media, my family, and teammates. You gotta make them feel comfortable. I want to make ya'll feel comfortable just like ya'll make me feel comfortable."

It certainly seems as though Blair will be comfortable in the NBA, just as he's shown a high level of comfort in dealing with the early pressure of media sessions, group workouts, and cross-fire style interviews with team of NBA executives. We saw jaws dropping when he walked in at a slim and trim 275 pounds, but the jaws will really start dropping when teams get a chance to see the way he dominates the glass. Don't be surprised if DeJuan Blair's knack for grabbing the basketball also grabs him a lottery selection in next month's NBA Draft.