The Answer Man is back! And it's never too early to focus on the future. Andy Katz answers a few questions from ESPN.com users he receives each week.

With Chris Bosh, Jarret Jack and Theodus Tarver coming in, and the talent returning for this season, how well do you see Georgia Tech doing this year?
Ryan
East Lansing, Mich.

Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt wasn't supposed to be that competitive after losing Alvin Jones. But he was. Losing Tony Akins should hurt, but it might not because of Hewitt's recruiting and his ability to maximize his talent. The Yellow Jackets will be young and inexperienced, but you can guarantee they'll play their tail off in the ACC. They will not be an easy out and should finish in position for a postseason berth.

Looking over your top players in this years draft and I don't see Reggie Evans from Iowa anywhere? A guy that leads the nation in rebounding one year, and the next still rebounds around 11 a game. I can't believe that with most NBA teams having a player just for REBOUNDING that Reggie isn't on the board?
Scott
Wavery

Scott,
Unfortunately college stats don't translate into NBA talent. Scouts don't see Evans as having enough of an offensive game (i.e. post moves). They don't envision him getting as many boards in the league nor getting to the free-throw line. They have thrown "undersized" as a label on him recently. He didn't wow them at Portsmouth, but will get another chance in Chicago. He's got a chance for second round, but he might have to get to the league the hard way and try to earn a roster spot through playing on a summer league team.

With the new rule that underclassmen can be drafted and still return to college if they don't hire an agent being implemented, what happens to a team if that happens to them? Do they lose that pick completely, gain compensation, or get another pick?
Lee Singer
Chesterfield, Mo.

First of all, the rule is for high school seniors. College underclassmen who get drafted are automatically ineligible. Junior college players are ineligible for Division I the moment they officially declare for the draft (with their name on the early-entry list put out by the NBA). High school seniors can go to school even if they're drafted. But they can't sign with an agent. The NBA teams hold that player's rights until a year after his eligibility expires. They don't get another pick or compensation. It's the same thing that happens to teams that draft a European player who doesn't come over for a few seasons.

Why are MAC superstars completely forgotten when it comes to the NBA draft? Keith Mcleod and Trevor Huffman are both tremendous players who would have been stars in any conference in the country. It makes no sense to me that they are not even considered prospects. Please help Andy.
Tim Merrifield
Athens, Ohio

Tim,
Once again, an exceptional college talent doesn't always translate into an NBA draft pick. Unfortunately, McLeod and Huffman looked rather pedestrian at Portsmouth. They might get another chance to prove the skeptics wrong in Chicago. Eduardo Najera is a perfect example of a player who did just that two years ago when he looked like he would go undrafted in Phoenix and then played well enough in Chicago to be a second-round pick. He is now a fullfledged contributing member of the Mavericks. But McLeod didn't score well and Huffman didn't stand out enough. It's not over for them but they made it harder on themselves.

Hey man, first off I would like to thank you for you wonderful coverage of the NCAA Tournament -- especially the backing you gave the Sooners. It's not often that writers like Oklahoma. For what reason, I don't know. I really don't have a question about the Weekly Word, but I do have a question about your top 30 draft prospects. I am curious as to why Aaron McGhee didn't make your list. I know he is not the best player out there, but I figured with his play throughout the year, Big XII tourney, and the Final Four, he would have moved up quite a bit. Just wondering what you thoughts are on Aaron. I look forward to hearing from you.
Chad
Okmulge, Okla.

Chad,
I really did think the Sooners were going to win the Final Four heading into the weekend. I had them at the beginning of the tournament going to the title game because of their defense. But it didn't happen. They could get back there again next season. McGhee was the top player at Portsmouth, but he's at the best position in the draft. There are more power forwards than any other position and that makes it harder for him to crack the top 30. He's a likely second-round pick, but somewhere in the middle of the second round to near the bottom. He shouldn't be discouraged, considering he has worked hard to get to this point and has a shot to make a roster.

Hey! I love the college hoops coverage I get from this website. I am also a NBA draft fanatic. Can you tell me some inside info on where my former Cat Steve Logan might be going?
Ben
Cincinnati

Logan will run into the problems of size. He's too small for the NBA to fall in love with him in the first round. He's a likely second-round pick. It's not a done deal, but he'll have to really do something special in Chicago to jump up into the first round. He works extremely hard and has been a big-time scorer. But he'll have to be an even better playmaker to make the jump into the first round.

How can Oklahoma and Oklahoma State get so much respect for their basketball programs when those schools refuse to play Tulsa, an in-state school with an equal amount of basketball success? Kelvin Sampson has gone on record as saying that OU has nothing to gain and everything to lose, despite TU's continued success over the past 20 years. Eddie Sutton claims that he won't play against former players/assistants. I guess he's amended that to include the assistants of his former assistants. It's a complete joke!

It's hard enough for Tulsa to find decent opponents willing to play on an even level without the state schools dodging TU. OU and OSU need to follow Kansas' lead. Kansas is playing Tulsa with a quasi 1 (Allen Fieldhouse)-1 (Kemper Arena)-1 (Donald W. Reynolds Center) deal. There's no reason OU and OSU can't play TU at a "neutral" site in Oklahoma City.

I'm surprised, given the success of the three schools, that you haven't made more mention of this. Recognizing the success of OU and OSU is acceptable, but respecting their cowardice is not.
Jacob Williams
Tulsa, Okla.

Jacob, you're right.
Tulsa should be on Oklahoma's and Oklahoma State's schedule. It makes sense, too much sense and would be great for the state's basketball fans. But the reality is the Big 12 schools don't have to play Tulsa and will continue to snub the Golden Hurricane for fear of losing. They certainly don't want to go to Tulsa and run the risk of losing to a WAC school. But playing the game in a neutral site like Oklahoma City would be the perfect solution. I couldn't agree more with you.

Mr. Katz,
Do you really think Lynn Greer will be drafted in the second round? I work at Temple and first off he is a great kid, but let me tell you he's no 6-2. He played on a team that he had to take 25 shots a game. He can score, but if he played bigger guards he would have trouble getting his own shot. Hope your right, but I think he would be better off going free agent to get with the right team. Thanks for your time.
Tim Hueber
Jenkintown, Pa.

There is a chance that Greer gets passed over in the second round, but it's unlikely. Sure, he might not be a true 6-2, but he can score and takes contact better than any other point guard in the draft. He draws the contact, finishes and gets to the free-throw line. Greer would be an exceptional player to have in the locker room and a team wouldn't go wrong by giving him a chance with a second-round pick.

College or high school players who enter the NBA draft that don't get an agent, can they wait until the draft is over and if they don't like where they are drafted go back to college? Or is there a deadline for you that says you are in or out of the draft? If there is a deadline, when did this rule come into affect?
Don Bruno
Cuyahoga Falls

High school players can get drafted and go back to school. College players cannot. High school and college players have until June 19 -- a week before the draft -- to withdraw. Junior college players are stuck once they declare. They could withdraw from the draft, too, but can't go to a Division I school.

What's the interest rate on the $20,000 loan that the NCAA is offering to the basketball players?
Albert Su
White Plains, N.Y.

Albert,
The NCAA shot down this proposal so you don't have to worry about the interest rate.

How can ESPN.com NOT have Xavier listed in its preseason top 25? The Musketeers ended last season ranked, lost only one starter, are coming off one of their best recruiting years, and will have All-American and POY candidate David West returning. Add to that an experienced starting squad, coach Thad Matta, and potential All-American Romain Sato and that team is loaded. I realize there are several good teams out there and most are deserving of a top 25 ranking, but ESPN.com is the only site that doesn't have X ranked. Some polls even have them as high as 11th. What gives?
Kevin
Virginia Beach

Kevin,
I can assure you that we will have Xavier in our real preseason top 25. That was a pre-preseason top 25 done at the Final Four with the intention that David West would not be on the roster. He decided to stay and changed the Musketeers' fate for next season. They are clearly the best team in the Atlantic 10 and could be a regular top 25 team.

Given the stellar junior season Arizona's Jason Gardner had, along with a potentially stronger senior season, and possibly a trip back to the Final Four and maybe a Player of The Year Award ... is there any reason to believe he wouldn't be a lock in the first round in the 2003 NBA draft? He has shown continuous improvement in each of his first three seasons, and seems very capable of doing the same kinds of things that NBA guards Damon Stoudamire, Travis Best, Brevin Knight and Tyronn Lue are doing. What teams out there do you think he would fit best on? And finally, what type of career would you expect Jason to have in the NBA?
Chris Newton
Indianapolis

Chris,
I'm sure you have a vested interest in Jason because he's from Indy. But take this to heart -- just because a player has a great college career it doesn't mean he's going to be an NBA player. Gardner was simply not good at the Chicago pre-draft camp last June. He's got two years to prove scouts wrong. He did well this past season and he's got one more to add to his resume. But it will still come down to his workouts and the gut feelings of scouts, GMs and coaches in the spring of 2003. Jason knows he's not a lock. He talks to the scouts and hears it from his coaches. He's going to have to prove himself all over again in a year. It's not fair but it's the reality of the NBA. I'm not saying he won't make it but the scouts aren't sold yet.

What chance do you think UNC has of landing Lebron James?
Antoine Cuthbertson
Charlotte

The answer Antoine is none. James is going to the NBA and will likely be the top draft pick in 2003. Carolina and every other school would be wasting their time recruiting James. The majority of schools, if not all, have backed off recruiting him. They all know it would be a waste of time and money.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. He answers questions on college basketball weekly.