UC Irvine leading scorer Jerry Green declared for the NBA draft by Sunday's deadline, but didn't hire an agent, the school confirmed Thursday.
Green, who averaged 19 points a game last season as a junior, stayed in school and would be eligible as a senior. Green told the Anteaters coaching staff that he wanted to see where he stood against his peers. He isn't projected to be in either of the first two rounds of the draft.
The official NBA list is expected to be released by midday Friday. Underclassmen have until June 20 to withdraw thier name from consideration before the June 27 NBA draft.
Brown record 6th prep to declare
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After months of soul searching, star
recruit Kwame Brown has decided to bypass the University of Florida
and head straight to the NBA.
Brown, a projected top-five draft pick, released a statement
Saturday saying he chose the pros to help his family. He is the record sixth high school player to declare for the draft.
"My mother strongly supports me attending college," Brown
said. "I understand and appreciate my mother's wishes, but I feel
my decision will enable me to both attend college and provide a
better way of life for my mother."
Brown, a star at Glynn Academy in Brunswick, Ga., comes from a
poor family. His mother, Joyce, has a degenerative disc in her back
and is unable to work.
Brown's minister, John Williams, says the player plans to earn a
degree once his playing days are over.
With the decision, Florida's months in limbo came to a
disappointing, but not totally unexpected, close. When Brown signed
at Florida in November, he was considered a likely prospect to
enter the NBA.
More than once, he assured Florida coach Billy Donovan he would
make good on his commitment. It was that promise that helped make
this such an agonizing choice for Brown, who will sign a three-year
contract worth about $6.5 million if he is drafted in the top five.
Donovan spoke with Brown frequently and made a few trips to
Brunswick as the process wound on. When it ended, the coach was
gracious.
"It is obvious Kwame's decision was based on helping his
family," Donovan said. "It is hard to fault anyone for trying to
provide for their family. I certainly respect that decision,
because family should be the most important decision in anyone's
life."
At 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, the McDonald's All-American would have
made Florida a favorite to make the Final Four for the second time
in three seasons in 2002. Still, the Gators can't complain. Donovan
also signed McDonald's All-Americans James White and David Lee,
which gives him one of the best recruiting classes, even without
Brown.
Brown averaged 20 points, 13 rebounds, six blocks and three
assists in his senior year of high school. It's the versatility
combined with the size that has NBA scouts so intrigued.
Brewer beats deadline to leave Auburn
Auburn sophomore Jamison Brewer beat the Sunday early-entry deadline and declared for the NBA draft.
Auburn is expected to put out an official news release on Brewer Tuesday. He didn't sign with an agent and could return to Auburn by June 20, the deadline to withdraw from the NBA draft.
The 6-5 point guard led all point guards in the country in rebounding with 7.2 a game. Brewer averaged 8.4 points but struggled shooting the ball, making just 23 percent of his 3-point shots.
The NBA is expected to release the official list later this week.
Houston freshman Ford declares for draft
HOUSTON -- University of Houston freshman Alton Ford has
applied for the NBA draft. The deadline for declaring for early
entry was Sunday.
The 6-foot-9, 280-pound forward averaged 11 points and six
rebounds last season when the Cougars went 9-20. He did not hire an
agent, leaving open the possibility he could return to college.
The draft will be held June 27 and players wishing to maintain
their college eligibility must remove their name one week before.
UNC's Forte follows 'dream' to NBA Draft
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina has an excellent track record sending players to the NBA early. Michael Jordan, James
Worthy, Vince Carter and Jerry Stackhouse are just a few who have
become stars.
First-team All-American Joseph Forte, who hopes to take that same path, ended a month of speculation Friday by leaving the Tar
Heels for the pros after two successful college seasons.
"It has been a goal of mine to be an NBA player, and it appears I will be drafted in the first round with a guaranteed four-year
contract," Forte said. "Therefore, I'll have the opportunity to fulfill this lifetime dream."
Forte had until Sunday to declare early for next month's draft. Underclassmen can withdraw from the
draft by June 20 if they don't sign with an agent. Forte, however, said Thursday he would not return to North Carolina if he declared for the draft.
"Once I'm in, I'm in," Forte told The News & Observer of Raleigh. "It's all or nothing for me. I'm not going to renege on any decision I make. I'm going with it. I just wanted to take my time."
Forte, a former prep star at DeMatha High School in Maryland, was the rookie of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference his
first season at North Carolina, averaging 16.7 points and leading the team to the Final Four.
He was then named co-ACC player of the year with Duke's Shane
Battier this season, leading the Tar Heels (26-7) in scoring
(20.9). Forte also was also one of the league's top free-throw
shooters at 85.3 percent.
But the 6-foot-4 sophomore guard slumped at season's end,
missing 17 of his final 22 3-point attempts over a five-game span
as the Tar Heels lost to Duke twice and were ousted in the second
round of the NCAA tournament by Penn State.
At that time, Forte didn't rule out turning pro. After several
meetings with coach Matt Doherty and former coaches Dean Smith and
Bill Guthridge, Forte made his decision final prior to taking his
final two exams.
"I'm grateful to my teammates and the two coaching staffs under
whom I played which helped me improve as a player," Forte said.
"I'll stay in close contact with next year's Carolina team and
hope coach Doherty and the team will have an outstanding year."
Doherty, who was in Canada at a basketball clinic, released a
statement on Forte's departure. Smith and Guthridge could not be
reached for comment.
"Joseph has been an excellent student-athlete and will continue
to be a part of the Carolina basketball family," Doherty said.
"We do feel he will have a great NBA career."
Forte is ranked as high as the second-best shooting guard in the draft by some scouts and analysts, behind Michigan State's Jason Richardson and ahead of Arizona's Gilbert Arenas. But NBA players and coaches say it's harder for perimeter players who come out early to adjust.
Forte was third behind Duke's Shane Battier and Jason Williams in voting for both The Associated Press All-America team and the
Wooden Award, which is given to the national player of the year.
Forte's mother, Wanda Hightower, recently took a job with sports agency Octagon, but it was unclear if her son would sign with the
company. Octagon represents Stackhouse, PGA Tour player Davis Love III, Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine, San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson, top NFL draft pick Michael Vick and tennis star Anna
Kournikova.
Georgia scoring leader Layne says he's hiring agent
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia junior D.A. Layne, the team's leading scorer last season, is leaving school to enter the NBA draft.
Layne told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday that he would hire an agent in the next few days, meaning he can't return to school. Layne submitted his name to the NBA last year but did not hire an agent, eventually deciding to withdraw from the draft.
"I feel like I'm among the elite in the draft," Layne told the newspaper, adding that he expected to be drafted late in the first round or early in the second.
Layne, 6-0, averaged 16.8 points a game last season in leading the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four seasons. He averaged 3.5 assists a game and was named first team All-Southeastern Conference.
Georgia also has to replace frontcourt players Shon Coleman, Anthony Evans and Rob Dryden next season.
Coach Jim Harrick told the newspaper he thought Layne would have benefitted from staying in school. "I think he'll do OK in the NBA," Harrick said. "I just hope and pray that he gets a chance because so many guys don't ever get a chance."
Hall's Dalembert commits by signing with agent
Seton Hall sophomore center Samuel Dalembert has declared for the NBA draft, his agent Marc Cornstein told ESPN.com Wednesday.
The new Pirates coaching staff wasn't aware that Dalembert had declared when contacted Wednesday. Louis Orr replaced Tommy Amaker at Seton Hall last month after Amaker went to Michigan. Dalembert would be the first Pirate to leave since Orr took over the program.
Dalembert forfeits his remaining two seasons of eligibility by signing with an agent. He had until Sunday to declare for the draft.
Dalembert was inconsistent as a freshman, averaging six points and six rebounds a game. But the 6-foot-11 center averaged 8.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a game playing next to national freshman of the year Eddie Griffin.
"Teams will be shocked by his offensive ability," Cornstein said. "He'll shoot up in the draft."
Dalembert is projected as a late first-round pick, but could move up once he works out for teams. He can't schedule workouts until after May 18 and is hoping to be in Chicago at the pre-draft camp June 5-9.
Cornstein represented Primoz Brezec, who was drafted in the first round by Indiana last year. Cornstein said he also represents possible first-round pick, Ognjen Askrabic, a 22-year-old Yugoslavian who plays for FMP Zeleznik.
Austin Peay's Hassell plans to go pro
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Trenton Hassell of Austin Peay said Wednesday he will submit his name for the NBA draft.
Hassell, the Ohio Valley Conference player of the year, said he
will not sign with an agent. This will allow him to return for his
fourth year at Austin Peay if he removes his name by June 20, a
week before the NBA draft is held.
The 6-foot-5 swingman averaged about 22 points, eight rebounds
and five assists last season.
Texas guard Evans declares for draft
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas junior guard Maurice Evans has declared himself eligible for the NBA draft, the school confirmed Wedensday. However, he has not hired and agent and could still pull out.
"I don't know what my chances are. That's what I'm curious to
see by doing this," Evans said Wednesday. "Basically, I just want
to see where I stand."
Evans surprised the Texas coaching staff and told head coach Rick Barnes of his intentions Tuesday afternoon. The 6-foot-5 Evans led the Longhorns in scoring (15.6 ppg), but was second on the team in turnovers with 70. NBA scouts love his size but Evans' limited perimeter shooting skills hurt his draft chances.
Evans, who started his career at Wichita State before transferring to Texas last season, is projected to be a likely second-round pick. Evans has until June 20 – a week before the NBA draft – to withdraw his name.
Freshman Cook leaving St. John's for draft
NEW YORK – Omar Cook, second in the nation in assists last
season as a freshman at St. John's, will enter his name in this
year's NBA draft but will not sign with an agent.
The school confirmed Tuesday a report in the New York Daily News
that said Cook would apply for the June 27 draft. He will not sign
with an agent, meaning he could change his mind by June 20 and be
eligible to return to school.
Cook averaged 15.3 points and 8.7 assists last season for the
Red Storm (14-15). He replaced Erick Barkley at point guard after
Barkley left for the NBA following his sophomore year. Barkley was
taken by Portland with the next-to-last pick of the first round.
"We hope Omar can fulfill his lifelong dream to play in the NBA
either this year or in the future," St. John's coach Mike Jarvis
said Tuesday. "He's just completed his final exams and has
fulfilled his academic requirements for this year. In the event he
changes his mind or feels he'd be best served to return to school,
we will keep his scholarship open for him."
Cook becomes the fourth Big East underclassman to declare for
the draft, joining juniors Troy Murphy of Notre Dame and Michael
Bradley of Villanova and fellow freshman Eddie Griffin of Seton
Hall.
Undergraduates have until May 13 to declare for the draft.
Second Collins twin enters NBA draft
STANFORD, Calif. –Stanford center Jason Collins has
applied for the NBA draft but hasn't hired an agent.
Collins, who averaged 14.5 points and 7.8 rebounds last season
while helping Stanford win its third straight Pac-10 title,
announced Tuesday he will withdraw from the draft if he doesn't
expect to be picked in the first round.
Collins, who has two seasons of eligibility left, would be the
first player ever to leave Stanford early. He must decide by June
20 – one week before the draft.
"While it would be an honor to be a high draft pick, I am not
overly concerned about my draft position," Collins said. "My
primary hope from the draft is that I end up in a good situation
with the right team."
Collins, who was the Pac-10's fourth-leading rebounder while
shooting 61 percent from the field, will graduate from Stanford
next month. He already has applied to graduate school for next
fall, and he will practice with the Cardinal next month when they
prepare for a tour of Australia.
Because he missed most of two seasons at Stanford with injuries,
Collins still has two years of eligibility. His twin brother,
Jarron, has used up his college eligibility and is generally
expected to be a second-round pick.
"If he feels he's going to go in the first round, he's going to go (pro)," head coach Mike Montgomery told the San Francisco Chronicle. "If he comes back, he probably would be the premier returning big man in the country, and that certainly would enhance his status. But he will have his degree, and the first round is guaranteed money, so if he goes, he has our blessing."
The decision would leave All-American Casey Jacobsen as the only
returning starter for the Cardinal, who spent much of the regular
season ranked No. 1 in both polls and reached the West Regional
final in the NCAA Tournament. Jacobsen has said he will return for
his junior season.
Jason Collins is the 32nd underclassman to declare for the NBA draft – a list that includes five high school players. If Collins remains in the draft, he would be the first Stanford underclassman to leave early.
Kentucky's top scorers testing NBA worth
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogans,
Kentucky's top scorers last season, plan to enter the NBA draft.
However, they will not sign with agents, leaving open the
possibility of a return to Kentucky if they don't like their
projected position in the June 27 draft.
"They'll both visit teams that interest them and work out for
teams that are interested in them," Kentucky coach Tubby Smith
said Saturday from Churchill Downs, where he was attending the
Kentucky Derby. "It's very possible they could decide to continue
to play at Kentucky, but that question can't be answered right
now."
College underclassmen have until June 20 to withdraw from the draft this year.
Bogans, a sophomore guard last season, led Kentucky in scoring,
averaging 17 points. Prince, a forward, averaged 16.9 points as a
junior.
"This is a stressful thing for a coach, but we'll continue to
recruit," Smith said. "We never stop recruiting."
Bogans' mother, Joy, told the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader she is
glad her son has the option of returning to Kentucky.
"I didn't want Keith to go out there and not be able to go to
school," she said. "I'd rather he stay in school."
Clancy testing draft waters without agent
LOS ANGELES – Southern California junior forward Sam Clancy will declare for the 2001 NBA Draft but will retain his right to return to school by not signing with an agent, sources close to Clancy on Friday told ESPN.com.
USC coaches are expected to send a letter to the NBA on Monday. Clancy has until May 13 to enter the draft, and until June 20 to withdraw.
The 6-foot-7 inch Clancy is projected as a late first round pick. However, he might go higher if he goes to the Chicago pre-draft camp and performs well in individual workouts.
The USC coaching staff doesn't mind that Clancy is declaring and getting a barometer on his skills – as long as he returns. Trojans' coaches are trying to convince Clancy that he could win Pac-10 player of the year honors and be a lottery pick after his senior year.
Brown shuns LSU, jumps from JuCo to NBA
BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU recruit Kedrick Brown, who signed to
play with the Tigers out of Okaloosa-Walton Community College in
Florida, has decided to play pro basketball instead.
"We have been informed he has signed with an agent and will
enter the upcoming NBA draft," LSU coach John Brady said
Wednesday. "We wish him well, but we are disappointed as a
coaching staff he did not choose to come to LSU to compete at this
level and develop as Stromile (Swift) did to ensure himself as a
high lottery pick."
Brown is the first junior college player to declare for this year's draft. Last year, Ernest Brown and Cory Hightower -- both out of Iowa's Indian Hills CC -- were chosen in the second round. Brown was picked by the Miami Heat, while the Lakers took Hightower.
Brown's decision comes only a week after Brady suspended
freshman JueMichael Young, who was academically ineligible last
season and was arrested for allegedly hitting a female student last
month.
Brady, who has a limited number of scholarships because of
recruiting violations dating back to when Dale Brown was coach, did
not hide his frustration about the loss of a recruit.
"It is unfortunate in today's game players can leave and turn
professional at any time even if there is a chance they may not be
ready," Brown said.
The 6-foot-7 Brown was one of three junior college players who
signed letter of intent to play for LSU next fall. The others are
6-9 Shawnson Johnson and 6-8 Thomas Davis. LSU also has received a
commitment from Xavier Whipple, a coveted 6-3 point guard from a
Georgia high school.
LSU's three-year sanctions end after next season. LSU is
permitted to have 11 scholarship players for the 2001-2002 season.
The Tigers will be allowed the maximum of 13 scholarship players
the following year.
Brady could give Brown's scholarship to another recruit, but may
end up saving it until the following year since most top prospects
have already decided where they will play next season.
"As we continue to battle scholarship restrictions and a
numbers problem with Kedrick making the decision he has made, we
are positive about our basketball program and its progress," Brady
said.
GW guard Brown leaving after sophomore year
WASHINGTON – Diminutive George Washington guard
SirValiant Brown announced Wednesday he will forgo his final two
years of college eligibility and enter the NBA draft.
The 6-1, 158-pound Brown dropped off a bit after a scintillating
freshman season. As a sophomore, he averaged 17.3 points per
game, second on the Colonials. He shot 37 percent from the
field and 29 percent from 3-point range.
A native of Springfield, Va., Brown averaged 24.6 points as
a freshman and finished second in the nation in scoring behind
Fresno State's Courtney Alexander. He had nine 30-point games,
including 42 points against Siena on December 11, 1999.
Brown is just the second GW player to leave school after his
sophomore year. In 1994, 7-2 center Yinka Dare entered the draft
and was a first-round pick but floundered in the NBA.
Brown is the 25th underclassman and seventh guard to leave
school early for the NBA draft. College players have until May
13 to declare.
Haston says goodbye to Indiana
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana forward Kirk Haston said Monday
he will enter the June 27 NBA draft, passing up his senior season.
"I feel that now is the best opportunity for me to fulfill my
lifelong dream of playing in the NBA," Haston said. "I will
always support the IU basketball program, and I look forward to
continued support from the Indiana basketball fans in my future
endeavors."
The third-team All-American averaged 19.0 points and 8.7
rebounds, both team highs, last season.
Haston, 6-foot-10 and 230 pounds, said he has chosen not to hire
an agent. As a result, if he changes his mind, he could still play
at Indiana next season.
"Playing in the NBA is the dream of many basketball players and
Kirk is fortunate to be in such a position," coach Mike Davis
said.
Satterfield declares for second straight year
CINCINNATI, Ohio – For the second straight year, Kenny Satterfield has declared for the NBA draft.
Satterfield, who declared for the draft last season but withdrew less than a week later, will forego his final two seasons of eligibility.
"We certainly wish Kenny good luck," said Cincinnati head coach Bob Huggins. "I hope that this is in Kenny's best interests and that he made the right decision."
A 6-2 point guard, Satterfield has averaged 11.9 points and 5.2 rebounds during his two seasons at Cincinnati. He averaged 14.4 points and 5.1 rebounds this past season, earning third team All-Conference USA and second team NABC all-district honors.
Wallace's first choice ... play in NBA
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama freshman Gerald Wallace, who passed on the NBA last year when he was a high school star, has made himself available for the June draft.
Wallace said he hasn't signed with an agent but will return for his sophomore year at Alabama only if it appears he won't be a first-round pick.
"I don't think that will happen," said Wallace, who plans to work out for NBA teams next month.
Wallace was Naismith's national player of the year as a senior at Childersburg High School. He spent most of last season as Alabama's sixth man, averaging 9.8 points and 6.0 rebounds and leading the team with 42 steals.
The 6-foot-7, 210-pound forward started only two games and saw his average dip to 6.3 points per game in Southeastern Conference games.
"This is my dream to play in the NBA," Wallace told The Birmingham News in a story Thursday. "I feel I'm ready. It's just something I've always wanted, deep down in my heart, to do. If I have this opportunity now, why not take it?"
"College prepared me for the NBA," said Wallace, who is still enrolled in classes. "I felt I was ready coming out of high school, but I didn't have the experience of playing against guys better than me."
Underclassmen who declare for the draft but haven't signed with an agent can remove their names by a week before the June 27 draft.
Wallace said it was up to him to do well in the individual workouts for NBA teams to be a first-round pick. "It's all on my shoulders," he said.
Wallace felt he was misused as a power forward by Alabama coach Mark Gottfried.
"That's like taking Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal) and moving him to two guard and expecting him to produce," Wallace said.
He said there were "no hard feelings."
"I'm just a player. I don't question the coach's judgment," Wallace said.
Gottfried said he wants "what's best for Gerald, what's best for his future." He said he hopes Wallace "continues to evaluate" his options before making a final decision on turning pro.
Richardson: Johnson not coming back to Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson said
Joe Johnson has intends to follow through with plans to enter the
NBA draft.
The 6-foot-8 sophomore guard had not signed with an agent, making him
eligible to remain with the Razorbacks if he pulls out of the draft
by June 20.
Richardson said Tuesday that Johnson has made his final decision
to keep his name in the June 27 draft. The coach said NBA scouts
estimate Johnson will go between the 13th and 20th picks in the
first round.
"I am sure Joe will be a first-rounder and that's guaranteed
money," Richardson said.
Johnson, a forward-guard, led the Razorbacks this
season with 14.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. He was a Wooden
Award and Naismith Player of the Year candidate. Johnson earned
All-Southeastern Conference honors.
Solomon chooses NBA over senior season at Clemson
CLEMSON, S.C. -- Guard Will Solomon, Clemson's leading
scorer the past two seasons, is skipping his final year of collage
to enter the NBA draft.
However, Solomon said Friday he would not hire an agent yet,
meaning he could return to school next season, if he changes his
mind.
"It was a difficult decision to make, but I owe it to myself
and my family to enter the draft," Solomon said.
The junior has averaged 15.2 points, 2.6 assists and 2.8
rebounds per game at Clemson. He was the Atlantic Coast
Conference's leading scorer a year ago with 20.9 points per game.
Solomon still can withdraw his name by June 20, a week before
the draft.
"I don't know what my chances are of being drafted, but I think
I have a good shot at playing," he said. "I will ... give it a
shot."
Solomon owns 15 Clemson records, including most consecutive double figure scoring games. He had a streak of 52 consecutive double figure games over his sophomore and junior seasons. He also set a school record for 3-point goals per game in a season, and an ACC record for scoring average improvement over consecutive years.
"Will and his family have put a lot of time and thought into this decision," said Clemson head coach Larry Shyatt. "I am happy that he is keeping his options open and continuing towards earning a degree from
Clemson University.
"Will has shown me that he is an NBA-caliber player, it is just a matter of when. Whatever his ultimate decision, I want him to
have both feet firmly in place and 100 percent committed to that goal."
Gardner fifth Arizona starter to leave
TUCSON, Ariz. – The devastation of Arizona's NCAA runner-up
basketball team is complete.
Sophomore guard Gilbert Arenas became the fourth
Wildcats underclassman starter to announce he will make himself
available for the NBA Draft.
The other starter was senior center Loren Woods.
Arenas, who turned 19 in January, is considered by scouts to be
the best pro prospect of the Wildcat bunch.
At 6-foot-3, he has extreme quickness and a good long-range
shooting touch along with spectacular leaping ability.
"When I came here two years ago without much recognition, I
always thought I'd play here for four years," Arenas said. "But
after two great years in Tucson, I feel like I'm ready to take the
next step and play in the NBA."
Last season, Arenas led Arizona in scoring at 16.2 points per
game. He shot 47.9 percent from the field. He set an NCAA semifinal
record for steals with six, all in the second half, of the
Wildcats' Final Four victory over Michigan State.
In the past five days, Arizona starters Richard Jefferson,
Michael Wright and Jason Gardner announced they would enter the NBA
Draft. Gardner, though, said he would not hire an agent in order to
retain the ability to return to school if he doesn't like his draft
position.
Luke Walton will be the only player returning with significant
playing time last season. Also back will be Rick Anderson, who
started seven games two seasons ago and was a redshirt last season,
and Travis Hanour, who appeared in 19 games as a freshman last
season.
Andrew Zahn, 6-9, sat out last season as a redshirt freshman. He
will be joined by incoming freshmen Channing Frye, a 6-11 center,
6-10 Isiah Fox, 6-8 forward Dennis Latimore, and guards Salim
Stoudamire and Will Bynum.
Randolph joins Richardson in NBA draft
Zach Randolph is leaving Michigan State after his freshman season, joining Spartans teammate Jason Richardson in entering the NBA draft.
"It is my dream and that is what I'm doing it for," Randolph said Wednesday at a news conference in his hometown.
"Nothing is promised to you, so you have to take advantage of your opportunities."
The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 10.8 points and 6.7 rebounds in less than 20 minutes a game as Michigan State reached the Final Four last season.
Randolph said he would turn pro regardless of where he is drafted. Both he and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said they expect Randolph will be taken in the first round.
Izzo said he played Randolph off the bench to get more scoring from his reserves.
"He did what we asked him to do," the coach said. "Even though it was only one year, it was still a worthwhile year for me and the team."
The departures of Randolph and Richardson – the sophomore shooting guard who announced Tuesday he's heading to the NBA – mean Michigan State is losing six of its top nine players, including seniors Andre Hutson, Charlie Bell, David Thomas and Mike Chappell.
Richardson was the first Michigan State player to turn pro as an underclassman since Magic Johnson left after his sophomore year in 1979. Richardson, who averaged 14.7 points per game, is expected to be a top-10 pick. He averaged 5.9 rebounds and shot 50.3 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from 3-point range.
The Spartans lost to Arizona in the NCAA semifinals on March 31.
Simmons 'testing NBA waters' without agent
CHICAGO – DePaul junior Bobby Simmons decided Thursday to place his name in the NBA draft pool. Simmons, a 6-foot-7 forward, has not signed with an agent and will remain enrolled at DePaul to maintain his collegiate eligibility.
"The reason I am making this move now is that I feel I've earned a chance to try and play in the NBA," Simmons said. "I've competed against the best players in the college game and now I want to see how I stack up against the best at the next level."
"In today's world of college basketball it is understandable when a young man feels the desire to 'test the waters' of the NBA draft," DePaul head coach Pat Kennedy said. "We will support Bobby in this endeavor. Above all, I want our young men to make decisions that will benefit them for a lifetime, not just the short-term."
A three-year starter who is the only player in DePaul history to have 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 3-pointers in a career, Simmons led the Blue Demons in scoring (16.7 ppg), rebounding (8.6 rpg) and 3-pointers (61) last season.
Curry spurns DePaul with straight-to-NBA decision
EVANSTON, Ill. – High school star Eddy Curry said Monday
night that he will make himself available for the NBA draft.
The 6-foot-11, 290-pound player made the announcement following
the EA Sports Roundball Classic, an all-star game featuring some of
the top prep players in the nation.
Curry committed to DePaul last fall, but said then he might try
to make the jump to the NBA if he thought he would go high enough
in the draft. Scouts say he's expected to go in the top 10.
In a discussion Monday afternoon with his parents, "Everything
pointed to the NBA," he said.
Curry was a McDonald's All-American, Parade Magazine player of
the year, Illinois Mr. Basketball and a unanimous Associated Press
All-State selection after guiding South Holland Thornwood High
School to second place in Class AA basketball in Illinois.
Curry, who averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds in the state
tournament, would join Kevin Garnett, Leon Smith and Darius Miles
as Illinois high school stars who went directly to the NBA.
Curry had 26 points, seven rebounds and three blocks Monday
night to lead the East to a 151-148 victory over the West in the EA
Classic.
Bradley bolting Villanova after one year for NBA
PHILADELPHIA – Villanova center Michael Bradley announced
Friday that he is forgoing his senior season to enter the NBA
draft.
"I just feel it's the appropriate time for me right now in my
career," said Bradley. "I feel like I've developed a lot in the
last four years at Kentucky and Villanova and I feel it's just time
for me to move on."
Bradley, a second-team All-American, averaged 21.4 points and
10.1 rebounds in his only season with Villanova. He played two
seasons at Kentucky and sat out a transfer season.
A 6-foot-10, 245-pound center, Bradley projects as a power
forward in the NBA and could be a lottery pick.
Pepperdine's Armstrong going pro
MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine's Brandon Armstrong, who
averaged 22.1 points per game this season, has decided to bypass
his senior year and enter the NBA draft.
Armstrong, a 6-foot-4, 180-pounder, averaged 14.4 points in the
1999-2000 season. A two-time All-West Coast Conference selection,
he led the Waves to a 47-18 record in two seasons.
"I have done a great deal of research and have spoken to many
people within NBA circles, and with this being a slim year for
shooting guards, I felt it was a good time to test the waters,"
Armstrong said in a statement released by the school.
The draft will be held June 27 in New York. Armstrong can opt to
return to Pepperdine if he does not sign with an agent or withdraws
his name from consideration by June 20.
"I have not signed with an agent and plan to follow all NCAA
guidelines to retain my eligibility while I investigate my
options," he said. "Pepperdine has been a great place for me, and
that is why I will keep the door open for my senior season."
Armstrong said he plans to participate in the NBA's annual
pre-draft camp in Chicago in early June.
Wilkins testing his NBA worth
North Carolina State confirmed that Wolfpack sophomore forward Damien Wilkins has decided to declare himself eligible for the 2001 NBA draft.
Wilkins plans to attend pre-draft camps, but will not hire an agent, which means he potentially can return to college if he chooses to do so. Wilkins is the son of former NBA veteran Gerald Wilkins and nephew of nine-time NBA All-Star Dominique Wilkins.
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