|
|
|
Wednesday, May 2, 2001
Austin's NBA value clear in SEC numbers
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
|
For the first time in three years, Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury isn't sweating the NBA early-entry list. His best player is staying in school.
Mario Austin isn't going anywhere. At least that's what he's telling his coach. And looking at the freshman's numbers, the 6-foot-9 forward is making another wise choice.
A year ago, Stansbury didn't have the stats to keep his prized recruit from toying with the idea of declaring for the draft. Austin somehow thought the competition at Sumter County High in York, Ala., had prepared him for the NBA. Austin went so far as to tell ESPN.com a few days before the deadline that he was going to declare.
|  | | Mario Austin was a McDonalds All-American last summer, but quickly found out in the SEC he wasn't ready for the NBA.
|
But when the NBA list of underclassmen and high school seniors came out in mid-May, Austin's name wasn't on it.
This year, with the stats to show his best player would be better served to stay in school, Stansbury again met with the shrinking 260-pound forward (Austin was 280 last fall). And again, Austin said he wouldn't declare for the NBA draft.
But there wasn't really a question this time. Austin had not shown he was ready after a freshman season that produced 7.9 points and 3.6 rebounds a game for the Bulldogs, who made it to the third round of the NIT.
"Mario understands after (this) season that he's not even close to being ready," Stansbury said. "It was hard (last season) to talk to him about it because there was nothing to visualize, nothing to show him how much hard work it takes.
"This time last year, he really thought he was ready. This year, he knows he's not."
His summer league teammate of a year ago -- Gerald Wallace -- was also waffling on the subject a year ago. Wallace would also wind up passing on the draft -- albeit for a season at Alabama -- and Austin wasn't about to be the only one of the two that went to college. But, unlike Wallace, no one in the league could guarantee that Austin would go in the first round, let alone the lottery. The same is true today.
"I've been in this spot before, two straight years," Stansbury said. "But after one year of conditioning, going through the season and going against guys in the SEC, it's a lot easier to for them (players like Austin) to see where they are."
Stansbury didn't have a chance in convincing Jonathan Bender to spurn the draft and honor his national letter of intent with the Bulldogs in 1999. Bender became a lottery lock after the McDonald's All-American Game. Any lure Starkville had for Bender was gone when he got word that he would be an instant millionaire. Toronto drafted him fifth and traded him to Indiana and he has been with the Pacers ever since.
A few weeks ago, Stansbury heard the rumors that Austin was thinking of bolting. Wallace was considering a move, and ultimately did declare last week. Both players have similar advisory boards within adidas and their summer league team in Alabama. The thought of losing Austin was enough of a concern that Stansbury sat down with him in his office.
But the conversation was easier than a year ago. Stansbury didn't even have to lecture Austin. The stats and the Bulldogs inability to get into the NCAA Tournament spoke volumes for Austin's game.
|
“ |
Mario understands after (this) season that he's not even close to being ready. This time last year, he really thought he was ready. This year, he knows he's not. ” |
|
|
— Rick Stansbury,
Mississippi State head coach |
For the Bulldogs to get over the hump, win the SEC West and get into the NCAA Tournament, Austin has to be a power player inside.
Robert Jackson is gone after being unable to fit with Stansbury. He transferred to Marquette, which means even more time for Austin. Stansbury signed two more wide bodies in 7-1 Marcus Campbell out of Albany, Ga., and 7-2 Wesley Morgan out of Gallaston, Tenn. Add 6-10 redshirt Lincoln Smith and Austin won't have to worry as much inside. He can be the focus without having to also be the defensive stopper.
"He's got to take some weight off and get down to 245, because he lost some of his explosion," Stansbury said. "He's got to improve his perimeter game as a four player, get better defensively and rebounding the ball."
Austin's strength is around the basket where he can bully his way to a bucket off the offensive glass. But he has to be able to step out and hit the mid-range shot.
"He's got experience playing in this league now," Stansbury said. "He couldn't even think about going to the NBA because he had a hard time stopping players in the SEC."
Mississippi State lacked leadership and toughness last season. The Bulldogs had talent, were big and tough to get around but failed to finish late. But the NIT gave the Bulldogs hope with the top three scorers in the three games all returning in Austin, point Derrick Zimmerman and wing Marckell Patterson.
Mississippi State wasn't able to capitalize off its non-conference win over Arizona and turn it into an NCAA bid. The Bulldogs don't have as high a profile game next season (Cincinnati in a tourney in Las Vegas is probably the best), putting even more pressure on finishing in the top two in the SEC West to get a bid.
Stansbury has had to live up to unreal expectations after taking over for Richard Williams. The Bulldogs went on a remarkable run to the 1996 Final Four, although it was a tad tainted by the questionable number of summer school credits Dontae Jones earned to get eligible.
He didn't catch a break when he lost Bender in '99 -- two months after the Bulldogs were on the bubble and featured on Selection Sunday when they didn't get a bid.
But the Bulldogs' rebuilding job came at a time when the rest of the SEC West was getting better. And next season should be just as difficult to win the league.
Ole Miss' surprise run to the SEC West title, conference tournament title game and Sweet 16 puts even more pressure on Stansbury to keep up. Having to contend with a hungry Alabama after it got denied an NCAA bid, still dangerous Auburn, rebuilding LSU and still viable Arkansas make a division title even tougher.
That's why keeping Austin was a must this offseason. The deadline to declare is May 13, but Stansbury isn't worried. He's convinced -- finally -- Austin has enough sense to stay away from the NBA.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
 Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
|
|
ALSO SEE
Going pro: Indiana junior Haston enters NBA draft
Early NBA draft entries
|
|
