ESPN.com - College Basketball - Making a Break?

NCB Preview
M College BB
Scores/Schedules
Rankings
Standings
Statistics
Transactions
Injuries
Message board
Weekly lineup
Teams
Recruiting
NCAA StatSearch
 Thursday, November 2
Will they stay, or will they go?
 
 By Andy Katz
ESPN.com

Here is a look at some of the college underclassmen, junior college players and high school seniors who may enter the 2001 NBA draft.

Making a Break?
Carlos Boozer (right), 6-9, Sophomore, Duke
Has feelers already out with adidas to test his value.
Jason Williams, 6-2, Sophomore, Duke
Played well enough against Olympians to think about bolting.
Joseph Forte, 6-4, Sophomore, North Carolina
Good enough to leave based on freshman year, but showed he's not strong enough for NBA against Olympians.
Gilbert Arenas, 6-3, Sophomore, Arizona
Athleticism on wing has him a potential first-round pick.
Jason Gardner, 5-10, Sophomore, Arizona
Least likely of Arizona underclassmen to bolt, but could consider if everyone else leaves.
Richard Jefferson, 6-7, Junior, Arizona
Will be shocked if he stays after making himself into an NBA two-guard over the summer.
Michael Wright, 6-7, Junior, Arizona
Has the size but not the ball skills to bolt yet. But could leave if Jefferson does.
Jason Collins, 6-11, Sophomore, Stanford
His brother Jarron is gone after this year, which may make Jason think about leaving, too.
Jason Kapono, 6-7, Sophomore, UCLA
History shows players who declare and return usually don't come back a second time.
Dan Gadzuric (right), 6-11, Junior, UCLA
Hedging on reports that he will definitely leave after 2001. NBA scouts are strongly encouraging that he stay.
Jason Richardson, 6-6, Sophomore, Michigan State
Was clearly the best player against the Olympians in September.
Zach Randolph, 6-9, Freshman, Michigan State
Spartans are banking on two years for Randolph but a breakout season could cut it short.
Cory Bradford, 6-3, Junior, Illinois
Bill Self should be able to convince him to stay but a banner shooting year could sway him.
Frank Williams, 6-3, Junior, Illinois
Has been a threat to leave every season but is meshing better with Self than Lon Kruger.
LaVell Blanchard, 6-7, Sophomore, Michigan
Any more turnover in Ann Arbor and Blanchard could decide he doesn't want to rebuild the Wolverines.
Vincent Yarbrough, 6-7, Junior, Tennessee
Considered declaring but would be hard to keep for a fourth year after he could have gone from high school.
Brett Nelson, 6-3, Sophomore, Florida
Not strong enough but a deep run in the tournament could have him following Mike Miller's footsteps after sophomore year.
D.A. Layne, 6-0, Junior, Georgia
Declared without a sniff. The same might occur if he tries his luck again.
Gerald Wallace, 6-7, Freshman, Alabama
Family and staff are pushing for at least two years and Wallace is beginning to buy into the plan.
Joe Johnson, 6-9, Sophomore, Arkansas
Nolan Richardson might have more trouble convincing Johnson to stay than he did Scotty Thurman.
Jared Jeffries (right), 6-9, Freshman, Indiana
Thought about NBA after Bob Knight firing. An all-Big Ten year and a potential new coach could send him to the league.
Mario Austin, 6-9, Freshman, Mississippi State
Set to declare on the final day but pulled back. If the Bulldogs don't get to the tournament, he might exit for real.
Caron Butler, 6-7, Freshman, Connecticut
Coaches had to convince him to come to college. Getting him back for a sophomore season could be just as tough.
Eddie Griffin, 6-9, Freshman, Seton Hall
Showing no signs of leaving, but his name will surface if he has a decent season.
Troy Murphy, 6-10, Junior, Notre Dame
The NBA will be shocked if he stays in school for a fourth year. But Mike Brey could stun them if the Irish look like a contender in 2002.
Kenny Satterfield, 6-2, Sophomore, Cincinnati
Declared and then returned. See Kapono.
Andre Brown, 6-9, Freshman, DePaul
Got eligible two weeks ago and might parlay that into a one and done.
Alton Ford, 6-9, Freshman, Houston
New staff had to ensure that he would stay with Cougars, opening up the possibility he could choose the league this time.
Chris Jefferies, 6-7, Sophomore, Fresno State
If Tark retires, Jefferies may make his second transfer in three years and this time to the NBA.
Tamar Slay, 6-9, Junior, Marshall
Creating a buzz with the scouts this early could make him a sleeper to declare.
Eddy Curry, 6-11, HS, South Holland, Ill.
Could be No. 1 player taken in the draft if he declares. Look for a token signing, possibly with DePaul, to throw off agents.
Tyson Chandler, 7-1, HS, Compton, Calif.
As good as gone. Already let Nike know that he'll be in the draft. Colleges have backed off considerably.
Dajuan Wagner, 6-2, H.S., Camden, N.J.
Even though he signed with Memphis, Wagner is a threat to leave if he has another banner year.
Jonathan Hargett, 5-11, HS, still looking
Hargett might not have a choice if he's ineligible after Durham (N.C.) Emmanuel High closed.
Kwame Brown, 6-10, Brunswick H.S. (Ga.)
SEC coaches will be shocked if Florida's top commitment still arrives in Gainesville.
DeSagna Diop, 6-11, Oak Hill Academy (Va.)
If Curry and Chandler are being talked in the top five then Diop might consider joining the high school party.
Kelvin Torbert, 6-4, HS, Flint, Mich.
Committing to the Spartans probably means he won't declare. If he's the high school player of the year, then the lure could prove tough to ignore.
Amare Stoudemire, 6-9, HS, Mount Zion, Durham, N.C.
Someone will be the first junior to declare. Stoudemire might be the guinea pig.
Antonio Falu, 6-5, JC, San Jacinto (Texas)
Originally signed with Houston but is a threat to bolt after his sophomore year.
Kei Madison, 6-9, JC, Iowa Western
Kicked off the team, Madison will finish at Southern Union in the spring but if isn't eligible, he's good enough to try the draft.
Ben Eze, 6-9, JC, College of Southern Idaho
The NCAA's meddling with Muhamed Lasege's case could force Eze into the draft rather than Division I.
Kenny Brunner, 5-9, Junior, Selma International (W.Va.)
Spurned by Georgia, Brunner might try his luck in the draft.
 



ALSO SEE
Will he or won't he? Early NBA exits changing recruiting game

NBA Tide may not sweep Wallace out of 'Bama

Don't worry, Jeffries has handle on Indiana offense

Study Hall: Griffin's game still maturing with Pirates