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Monday, May 6
 
Stoudemire adds to prep talent in 2002 draft

Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Amare Stoudemire, considered one of the best high school players in the country, announced Monday he will skip college and enter the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-10 forward from Orlando Cypress Creek H.S. made his announcement at the Bears' basketball banquet.

"This is something that I've been planning," Stoudemire said. "It's a dream come true for me. My family gave me so much help in the decision."

Stoudemire averaged 29.1 points, 15 rebounds and 6.1 blocks per game this season and was named Florida's Mr. Basketball.

He said he has not yet decided on an agent. The NCAA recently changed its eligibility rules so that a high school player could be drafted, then decide to play in college, provided he did not sign with an agent. Stoudemire had indicated he would have been interested in attending Memphis University.

Earlier Monday, Lenny Cooke, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y. who did not play basketball this season because he had run out of high school eligibility, made himself available for the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-6 Cooke, 20, and Stoudemire joined DeAngelo Collins of Inglewood Calif., as high school players who have declared for the draft to be held in June.

Stoudemire and Collins were among the 24 players selected for this year's McDonald's All-America High School Game.

Stoudemire said his goal is to become the first player to go straight from high school to be selected NBA rookie of the year.

"I don't intend on being an average player," Stoudemire said. "I want to be a great player. I want to be an impact player."

Last season, six high school players declared for the draft. Four -- Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry and DeSagana Diop -- were taken among the first eight picks.




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