This article is from Hoopshype, so, no link, but go to Hoopshype and it's there, here's the text. Basically, Isiah went to Tucson to do an extensive background check on Frye and came away VERY impressed:

Character just 1 reason for Frye's draft rise

Paola Boivin
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 7, 2005 12:00 AM

Isiah Thomas slipped into Tucson six weeks ago determined to uncover Channing Frye's alter ego. Drafting players of sound character has become fashionable in the NBA, and the New York Knicks president wanted a peek at Frye's baggage.

He visited restaurants. He spoke with the player's friends. He mingled in the community before visiting Arizona coaches with a look of disbelief.

"He said of all the years he's been scouting, he's never heard that much positive feedback about one player," said Wildcats assistant coach Josh Pastner, whose story Thomas confirmed through a Knicks official.

That St. Mary's High product Frye is a good citizen isn't even the point. That Thomas spent so much time researching him is. The Knicks select eighth in the June 28 draft. Two months ago, many were calling Frye a late first-round pick. Now, most believe he'll be a lottery choice (top 14).

"In all likelihood, his agent probably won't have him work out for anyone below (ninth pick) Golden State," one NBA executive said. "They're being selective and if you look at how much his stock has risen, you understand why. He's one of the very few skilled big kids in the draft."

When the NBA's annual predraft camp opens today in Chicago, Frye won't compete - few projected high picks do - but he will attend to be measured and prodded. What scouts will find is a 6-foot-11, 252-pound center who has added strength by spending the past six weeks living in Chicago and working out with Michael Jordan's former trainer, Tim Grover. Frye has gained 16 pounds since the end of the Wildcats season.

"I think I've answered all the questions that need to be answered," Frye said Monday during a brief stop in Phoenix. "No one is saying 'He has an attitude problem.' No one is saying, 'He's soft.' Now we'll just wait and see. I think what people forget is how out of our hands this really is."

One of the biggest factors in Frye's surge is his performance in the NCAA Tournament. In the pressure-packed final 3:40 of the Wildcats' 79-78 victory over Oklahoma State, he made two jumpers, blocked two shots and grabbed a rebound. In the regional final loss to Illinois, Frye shot 11 for 14 and had 24 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks.

The NBA also is learning how technically sound Frye is. Credit four years in college, plus the guidance of a coach, Lute Olson, who puts a premium on fundamentals. It's one of the reasons Frye's former Wildcats teammate, Andre Iguodala, was the ninth pick in the 2004 draft. Iguodala's defensive skills helped him open the season as Philadelphia's starting small forward.

Frye's path is beginning to look a lot like Iguodala's. The team with the ninth pick this year, Golden State, is in need of a low-post scorer and athletic shot blocker. The coach of the Warriors, former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery, knows firsthand about Frye's gifts.

Frye and Iguodala also share the same agent. Not that Rob Pelinka won the job easily. Frye and his parents followed a carefully designed plan that required three of the top agents to fly to Tucson. Each had one hour to make a presentation in Olson's office with Olson, Frye and Frye's parents, Karen and Thomas, taking notes.

"As a family, we never talked about the NBA until a year ago," Karen Frye said. "We felt as though Channing needed to keep his focus. But once we did, we felt we needed to prepare the right way. My husband is so detailed, that choosing the agent was a very arduous process."

Frye would be pleased to follow in his former teammate's footsteps. Iguodala landed a three-year contract worth approximately $6.17 million, the most allowed last season under the collective bargaining agreement.

Frye already is displaying some marketing savvy. He and his parents have formed a company called SWD, which will partner with Pelinka's Los Angeles-based SFX Sports Group and focus on marketing Frye to a national arena.

Pelinka knows marketing Frye is no great challenge and that his likability factor ultimately will help the player in this draft.

"More teams are placing a premium on character," the NBA executive said. "Look at the Spurs, the Suns. Teams realize it works."

It's why Isiah Thomas spent extra time in Tucson.

And it's at least a small reason why Frye has made the biggest leap of his basketball career.

Well I think the character thing speaks to what his downside is. Is he gonna be a headcase and be out of the league when his rookie contract expires? NO. Is he gonna be a 12-10-2.5 player in the league? Theres really no way to tell. But he is gonna be around and he is gonna be decent I'm sure. If we get big Z, Frye makes sense to have around alongside him.

Posted by Killa4luv:

Well I think the character thing speaks to what his downside is. Is he gonna be a headcase and be out of the league when his rookie contract expires? NO. Is he gonna be a 12-10-2.5 player in the league? Theres really no way to tell. But he is gonna be around and he is gonna be decent I'm sure. If we get big Z, Frye makes sense to have around alongside him.

how? they're too similar. you need a rugged PF who will rebound, play defense and score inside next to Z not a tweener who's a jumpshooter

The hell with all of that....just from the go this kid is better than anyone we have on our roster....Stop looking for a super-star, because it takes time to become a super-star...Give me a hard working player and I will take him in a heart beat. After all, this is a freaking team sport....Shaq alone couldn't power the Heat to the finals...It takes a team to win and a team to lose....Draft Frye because he served his dues...The hell with the high-school kids who have yet to prove that they can perform on the big stage....I like what I am hearing about Frye, and I trust Isiah's choice....I am 100% sure that Isiah will not pass on this kid....

despite being 6'11 or 7'0 if he is that dont you think Frye is better suited to play the 4 when you see him?

I will say he's a good compliment to Sweetney. Sweetney is a guy thats best when he's camping out under the basket where Frye is better in the high post like a Brad Miller type.

Frye has a 7'3 wingspan. Thats about par. We know he's a good athlete. Not the end of the world by any means. I'm with you on Bynum, not because I know that much about AB but rather I see his as a very high ceiling player.

Posted by fishmike:

despite being 6'11 or 7'0 if he is that dont you think Frye is better suited to play the 4 when you see him?

I will say he's a good compliment to Sweetney. Sweetney is a guy thats best when he's camping out under the basket where Frye is better in the high post like a Brad Miller type.

Frye has a 7'3 wingspan. Thats about par. We know he's a good athlete. Not the end of the world by any means. I'm with you on Bynum, not because I know that much about AB but rather I see his as a very high ceiling player.

Listen, this is what I truly think. Frye is a good basketball player that really is a bit of a tweener. Go watch a tape of how Andre Bogut manhandled him. I'm sorry but he is a nice pick between 13-18. Andrew bynum is the only real C in this draft with as much upside as Bogut, in some ways maybe more the way the NBA is played. Im very high on Bogut, but Bynum is just a huge huge powerful athlete who is just burgeoning with skills.

No one sawthe new Bynum physique until Sat. the only recognition many GM's and guys here have of him is mCD where he was over weight and injured.

Obviously Isiah did his homework well before this workout and quite possibly has jumped the gun and made a promise??????

Its a mistake even if Bynum ended up below Frye[which i highly doubt] becaue fishmike you couldnt be more right, we need high ceiling players. If we wanted to settle Nazr Mohammed was already here giving us 10-10 or whatever. and I will tell you this nazr is MUCh tougher than Frye, not as skilled, no where as skilled, but Jared Jefferies was also a high skill 6-11 240 pound player who people thought was sooft as is Brian cook.

Downside with Bynum a hard working intelligent Jerome James--downside with frye is a finese type bust

Ny has gotta be that top 10 team that promised channing frye--you could tell with that article from the post where they mention three Gs--its always the opposite-and now with this hiden isiah stuff in az--if he took all that time, hes got to be the source of the top 10 promise

but heck, i think i may jump over to either joey graham or antoine wright if channings the pick.

Posted by Knicksfan:

That solves the whole puzzle. Toronto takes Frye as many here say then need so much size. They make a sure pick in Fryre and, guess who's there for us at 8th? Bynum! Isiah makes the pick, makes us all happy and we can dream about Bynum being the next Shaq in some seasons. Happy ending!

i dont think Bynum is the next Shaq, I think when you see Brendan Haywood have an 18 point 11 rebound 3 block game every fifth game--I think that will be Bynum but consistently night in and night out. I would say a consistent 18-20 10-11 3 blocks for 8-10 years. Thats well below Shaq and well below Ewing but that is also an anchor--you can put parts around that

I have nothing really to add, but: http://www.ownthedraft.com/Player%20Profiles/Channing_Frye.htm

http://nbadraft.net/profiles/briancook.htm

this is very similar to drafting sweetney.

a very very very safe pick.
nobody can say anything bad about it b/c he IS a center.

in fact, i think layden would've drafted him as well.

i'm hoping this is part of isiah's due diligence on the kid but i can't see him wasting all this time in arizona if he's not VERY high on the list.