So he turned the Hawks' rookie/free-agent mini-camp into his own personal playground. Teague put on a dazzling display during the four-day camp, complete with two-a-day, boot camp-style workouts under the watchful eye of Hawks coach Mike Woodson.

Even the always conservative Woodson came away impressed.

"This guy is a point guard, man," Woodson said. "He's got all the things you need. We just have to coach him and get him stronger and more confident and vocal in what he does, because he's already got the tools to work with."

Teague and Woodson worked out any kinks in their relationship on the first day of camp. It was actually 90 minutes into the first workout.

Woodson barked a few words at his rookie point guard. And then he barked a few more, reminding Teague that he wasn't at Wake Forest anymore and that if he planned on running this team some day, he better make himself heard.

"Yeah, that was good to get that out on the first day," Teague said smiling. "And that doesn't bother me one bit. Coach is from Indiana like me, and that's just the way we do it in Indiana."

Teague spent nearly month-long stretch in between the draft and the Hawks' mini-camp back home in Indianapolis.

He didn't get the chance to do summer league like the rest of his draft class, so he had to keep himself occupied with solo workouts and weight work. He couldn't even play pick-up ball since he didn't sign his contract until July 21.

"This is my first time getting up and down the floor in forever," Teague said. "It was fun just to be out there with all those guys. I didn't get the chance to play the way I wanted to back home, so this is my chance to cut loose a little bit."

Hawks assistant coach Larry Drew likes what he's seen in young Teague.

"The thing that intrigues me, though, is that he is so skilled," Drew said. "Since I've been here, we have not had a point guard with his type of speed that can make a shot and has all the tools to run the pick and roll. And that's something you have to defend every night in the NBA."