Who's in, who's out of the draft?
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford
Friday, April 23
All has been pretty quiet on the draft front this week. Once the Jordan Capital Classic (the last of the high school all-star events) ended on Monday, many GMs dusted off their passports and headed overseas for the next few weeks.
Insider will be picking up their trail starting next week when we head to Tel Aviv, Israel, to continue our in-depth reporting about the influx of international players in the draft.
Until then, we still have a few unresolved issues to wrap up. Underclassmen have until May 10 to declare for the draft. So far, 21 players have done so, and another 18 either have one foot in the door or are still sitting on the proverbial draft fence.
Here's a look at where those 18 stand.
One foot in the door
Players expected to declare for the 2004 draft.
Ryan Gomes (right) is probably better off returning to Providence for his senior season.
Ryan Gomes, F, Providence
Gomes has been telling people he's likely to enter the draft to check out his draft status. He doesn't plan to hire an agent and may decide to play at the Chicago pre-draft camp. Based on the feedback we're getting from scouts, he's on the first-round bubble. He's probably better off returning for his senior season at Providence.
Al Jefferson, PF, HS Sr., Prentiss (Miss.)
Jefferson has been speaking with agents as well, and the general consensus is he'll declare for the draft. He received positive reviews from several scouts after the Hoop Summit and Jordan Capital Classic. If he can get in a little better shape and improve his explosiveness, he could be a real sleeper in the draft. It's tough to find someone who doesn't like a kid who averaged 40-plus points a game.
Juan Palacios, SF, HS Sr., Our Savior (New York)
Palacios had visions of jumping straight to the NBA, but so-so performances in the all-star games have hurt his stock. A few scouts still like him, but not enough for him to declare. Still, there's talk he'll struggle to qualify academically for college.
J.R. Smith, SG, HS Sr., New Jersey
It looks like he might be in. His father says they won't make an official decision until closer to the deadline. However, Smith has been interviewing agents over the past week. His stock rose dramatically after stellar performances at the EA Roundball Classic, McDonald's All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit. Scouts love his athleticism, body and, most importantly, that killer outside-shooting touch. Will it be enough to get him in the lottery? Right now it looks like he's right on the lottery bubble.
Robert Swift, C, HS Sr., Bakersville (Calif.)
Another kid who impressed in the all-star games and may have no choice, academically. Swift (7-foot-1, 260 pounds) won't be a high pick in the draft, but someone will take a chance on him late in the first round or early in the second. From the sound of things, that will be enough.
Sebastian Telfair, PG, HS Sr., Brooklyn
We're all a little surprised we haven't heard from Telfair yet. Several weeks ago everyone believed he'd be in the draft. Now there's some doubt. Telfair's performances at the high school all-star games were so-so, and Telfair has remained adamant that if he declared, he wanted to play in year one. Somehow we get the feeling the feedback wasn't so positive on the second request. However, reports he's likely to get a shoe contract from Adidas in the $10 million range may make up his mind for him. That's a lot of money to pass up. Another report in the N.Y. Post today had him dropping out of school for several weeks to work out at IMG in Florida. He probably still will declare for the draft, but the lottery looks like a stretch.
Ronny Turiaf, F, Jr., Gonzaga
He's gauging interest right now. The word is he'll probably declare, but not hire an agent until he has a better feel for his stock. Right now he's looking like a late-first-rounder. He might be able to improve his stock with another year of school. Then again, you know how the NBA treats seniors.
Delonte West, SG, Jr., Saint Joseph's
The plan is to declare for the draft, refrain from hiring and agent, then play in the Chicago pre-draft camp. If West can convince NBA scouts he's a point guard, his stock will soar. If he can't, he'll follow in teammate Jameer Nelson's footsteps and return to school for his senior season.
Sitting on the fence
Players who are still mulling whether to declare for the 2004 draft.
Sean Banks, SF, Fr., Memphis
There was a time scouts were pretty sure Banks was in. However, he's been silent over the past month, and now no one is sure what his intentions are. In cases like this, it's probably a pretty good sign he's returning to school.
Luol Deng, SF, Fr., Duke
The latest rumors coming out of Durham have Deng leaning strongly toward going pro. A month ago he was telling every agent who came calling that he was returning to Duke. However, after the season he discussed the situation with his family and seems to be having a change of heart. Multiple sources close to Deng claim he's strongly considering putting his name in the draft. If he does, expect him to stay in. He's a lock for the top five.
Francisco Garcia, SG, So., Louisville
Rick Pitino wants him back, and Garcia isn't hearing enough positive feedback from scouts to make the jump. He may flirt with entering, but right now he's not guaranteed to be a first-round pick. He needs to go back to school.
Rudy Gay, SF, HS Sr., Baltimore
Gay has flirted with the NBA, and scouts love him. However, with so many other high school kids cluttering the draft, it would be easy for him to get lost. Look for him to honor his commitment to UConn.
Devin Harris, PG, Jr., Wisconsin
He claims he's still deciding, but the fact he's driving around in a new Mercedes -- a gift from his father, and reportedly in full compliance with NCAA eligibility guidelines -- could be an indication he'll declare. Harris probably should. He's considered a late-lottery pick by just about everyone. He could help his stock by returning for his senior season, but by how much?
Jarrett Jack is leaning toward staying in school, but his draft stock is high right now.
Jarrett Jack, PG, So., Georgia Tech
Before the NCAA Tournament, Jack was pretty adamant about not leaving Georgia Tech early. Tech, especially if it lands Randolph Morris, will be right back in the hunt again for a national championship next season. However, his draft stock looks pretty good right now, too. A few scouts have him ranked just below Harris. Right now I'd say it 70-30 that he returns to school.
Shaun Livingston, PG, HS Sr., Peoria (Ill.)
He met with Coach K on Wednesday to discuss his future a. Livingston is a top-six or seven pick if he's in and could go as high as No. 3 under certain scenarios. However, he's unlikely to play much next season if he decides to turn pro because of his thin frame. That's tough for a pure point guard to swallow. Sources claim he's leaning toward Duke. However, the NBA's siren call is awfully hard to resist.
Randolph Morris, C, HS Sr., Atlanta
It sounds like Morris is going to school. He's narrowed his choices to Georgia Tech and Kentucky. He just hasn't gotten the draft buzz he'd hoped for. A year or two dominating college will do it for him.
Hakim Warrick, F, So., Syracuse
Warrick has done his homework, but he's still all over the draft board. Some scouts feel he's a late lottery pick. Others think he could slip late into the first round. He's got another very tough decision in front of him. He's been talking to coach Jim Boeheim, who had this to say about his player. "I think he has the potential to be a very good player in the NBA, but the more preparation any player gets, the better -- Carmelo (Anthony) being an exception," Boeheim said. "If Hakim was 230 or 240 (pounds), we wouldn't even be discussing it, because he would go. But he's not (that strong), and he's still got to work on his perimeter skills and get more preparation to be on the perimeter." If some of the players above him decide to stay in school, Warrick's decision becomes easier. If they enter the draft? He's probably better off returning for his senior season and hitting the weights this summer.
Draft Cards
Another high school kid on the way? Right now it looks like as many as eight high school players (Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, Shaun Livingston, J.R. Smith, Sebastian Telfair, Al Jefferson, Dorell Wright and Robert Swift) will likely be in this year's draft.
Will Darius Washington make it nine? Washington, considered the third-best high school point guard in the country behind Livingston and Telfair, has been working out at IMG along with other draft prospects and is seriously considering putting his name in the draft.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Washington withdrew from one of his high school classes and may end up having some academic issues if he decides he still wants to play at the University of Memphis. Washington, at 6-foot-2, is a super quick, athletic point guard who excels by taking his man off the dribble and exploding to the hole. He's a real point guard but also can score at will when he needs to. With that said, every NBA scout I've talked to about Washington believes he needs at least two years of school. No one Insider talked to has ever mentioned his name as a legit first-round draft prospect this year.
What's ironic is that it was Washington trying to give advice to Telfair before the McDonald's All-American Game.
"I just hope he understands that NBA stands for No Boys Allowed," Washington said a few weeks ago. "It's nothing like high school. Every night is a battle."
However, time spent at IMG with other draft prospects, such as Minnesota's Kris Humphries, apparently has changed his mind.
"Working out down here, I see the NBA is not a longshot for me. It's right behind the door. You just got to open it up and let it in," Washington told the Sentinel.
Be careful Darius. You can open the door, but the NBA can slam it right back in your face.
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford
Friday, April 23
All has been pretty quiet on the draft front this week. Once the Jordan Capital Classic (the last of the high school all-star events) ended on Monday, many GMs dusted off their passports and headed overseas for the next few weeks.
Insider will be picking up their trail starting next week when we head to Tel Aviv, Israel, to continue our in-depth reporting about the influx of international players in the draft.
Until then, we still have a few unresolved issues to wrap up. Underclassmen have until May 10 to declare for the draft. So far, 21 players have done so, and another 18 either have one foot in the door or are still sitting on the proverbial draft fence.
Here's a look at where those 18 stand.
One foot in the door
Players expected to declare for the 2004 draft.
Ryan Gomes (right) is probably better off returning to Providence for his senior season.
Ryan Gomes, F, Providence
Gomes has been telling people he's likely to enter the draft to check out his draft status. He doesn't plan to hire an agent and may decide to play at the Chicago pre-draft camp. Based on the feedback we're getting from scouts, he's on the first-round bubble. He's probably better off returning for his senior season at Providence.
Al Jefferson, PF, HS Sr., Prentiss (Miss.)
Jefferson has been speaking with agents as well, and the general consensus is he'll declare for the draft. He received positive reviews from several scouts after the Hoop Summit and Jordan Capital Classic. If he can get in a little better shape and improve his explosiveness, he could be a real sleeper in the draft. It's tough to find someone who doesn't like a kid who averaged 40-plus points a game.
Juan Palacios, SF, HS Sr., Our Savior (New York)
Palacios had visions of jumping straight to the NBA, but so-so performances in the all-star games have hurt his stock. A few scouts still like him, but not enough for him to declare. Still, there's talk he'll struggle to qualify academically for college.
J.R. Smith, SG, HS Sr., New Jersey
It looks like he might be in. His father says they won't make an official decision until closer to the deadline. However, Smith has been interviewing agents over the past week. His stock rose dramatically after stellar performances at the EA Roundball Classic, McDonald's All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit. Scouts love his athleticism, body and, most importantly, that killer outside-shooting touch. Will it be enough to get him in the lottery? Right now it looks like he's right on the lottery bubble.
Robert Swift, C, HS Sr., Bakersville (Calif.)
Another kid who impressed in the all-star games and may have no choice, academically. Swift (7-foot-1, 260 pounds) won't be a high pick in the draft, but someone will take a chance on him late in the first round or early in the second. From the sound of things, that will be enough.
Sebastian Telfair, PG, HS Sr., Brooklyn
We're all a little surprised we haven't heard from Telfair yet. Several weeks ago everyone believed he'd be in the draft. Now there's some doubt. Telfair's performances at the high school all-star games were so-so, and Telfair has remained adamant that if he declared, he wanted to play in year one. Somehow we get the feeling the feedback wasn't so positive on the second request. However, reports he's likely to get a shoe contract from Adidas in the $10 million range may make up his mind for him. That's a lot of money to pass up. Another report in the N.Y. Post today had him dropping out of school for several weeks to work out at IMG in Florida. He probably still will declare for the draft, but the lottery looks like a stretch.
Ronny Turiaf, F, Jr., Gonzaga
He's gauging interest right now. The word is he'll probably declare, but not hire an agent until he has a better feel for his stock. Right now he's looking like a late-first-rounder. He might be able to improve his stock with another year of school. Then again, you know how the NBA treats seniors.
Delonte West, SG, Jr., Saint Joseph's
The plan is to declare for the draft, refrain from hiring and agent, then play in the Chicago pre-draft camp. If West can convince NBA scouts he's a point guard, his stock will soar. If he can't, he'll follow in teammate Jameer Nelson's footsteps and return to school for his senior season.
Sitting on the fence
Players who are still mulling whether to declare for the 2004 draft.
Sean Banks, SF, Fr., Memphis
There was a time scouts were pretty sure Banks was in. However, he's been silent over the past month, and now no one is sure what his intentions are. In cases like this, it's probably a pretty good sign he's returning to school.
Luol Deng, SF, Fr., Duke
The latest rumors coming out of Durham have Deng leaning strongly toward going pro. A month ago he was telling every agent who came calling that he was returning to Duke. However, after the season he discussed the situation with his family and seems to be having a change of heart. Multiple sources close to Deng claim he's strongly considering putting his name in the draft. If he does, expect him to stay in. He's a lock for the top five.
Francisco Garcia, SG, So., Louisville
Rick Pitino wants him back, and Garcia isn't hearing enough positive feedback from scouts to make the jump. He may flirt with entering, but right now he's not guaranteed to be a first-round pick. He needs to go back to school.
Rudy Gay, SF, HS Sr., Baltimore
Gay has flirted with the NBA, and scouts love him. However, with so many other high school kids cluttering the draft, it would be easy for him to get lost. Look for him to honor his commitment to UConn.
Devin Harris, PG, Jr., Wisconsin
He claims he's still deciding, but the fact he's driving around in a new Mercedes -- a gift from his father, and reportedly in full compliance with NCAA eligibility guidelines -- could be an indication he'll declare. Harris probably should. He's considered a late-lottery pick by just about everyone. He could help his stock by returning for his senior season, but by how much?
Jarrett Jack is leaning toward staying in school, but his draft stock is high right now.
Jarrett Jack, PG, So., Georgia Tech
Before the NCAA Tournament, Jack was pretty adamant about not leaving Georgia Tech early. Tech, especially if it lands Randolph Morris, will be right back in the hunt again for a national championship next season. However, his draft stock looks pretty good right now, too. A few scouts have him ranked just below Harris. Right now I'd say it 70-30 that he returns to school.
Shaun Livingston, PG, HS Sr., Peoria (Ill.)
He met with Coach K on Wednesday to discuss his future a. Livingston is a top-six or seven pick if he's in and could go as high as No. 3 under certain scenarios. However, he's unlikely to play much next season if he decides to turn pro because of his thin frame. That's tough for a pure point guard to swallow. Sources claim he's leaning toward Duke. However, the NBA's siren call is awfully hard to resist.
Randolph Morris, C, HS Sr., Atlanta
It sounds like Morris is going to school. He's narrowed his choices to Georgia Tech and Kentucky. He just hasn't gotten the draft buzz he'd hoped for. A year or two dominating college will do it for him.
Hakim Warrick, F, So., Syracuse
Warrick has done his homework, but he's still all over the draft board. Some scouts feel he's a late lottery pick. Others think he could slip late into the first round. He's got another very tough decision in front of him. He's been talking to coach Jim Boeheim, who had this to say about his player. "I think he has the potential to be a very good player in the NBA, but the more preparation any player gets, the better -- Carmelo (Anthony) being an exception," Boeheim said. "If Hakim was 230 or 240 (pounds), we wouldn't even be discussing it, because he would go. But he's not (that strong), and he's still got to work on his perimeter skills and get more preparation to be on the perimeter." If some of the players above him decide to stay in school, Warrick's decision becomes easier. If they enter the draft? He's probably better off returning for his senior season and hitting the weights this summer.
Draft Cards
Another high school kid on the way? Right now it looks like as many as eight high school players (Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, Shaun Livingston, J.R. Smith, Sebastian Telfair, Al Jefferson, Dorell Wright and Robert Swift) will likely be in this year's draft.
Will Darius Washington make it nine? Washington, considered the third-best high school point guard in the country behind Livingston and Telfair, has been working out at IMG along with other draft prospects and is seriously considering putting his name in the draft.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Washington withdrew from one of his high school classes and may end up having some academic issues if he decides he still wants to play at the University of Memphis. Washington, at 6-foot-2, is a super quick, athletic point guard who excels by taking his man off the dribble and exploding to the hole. He's a real point guard but also can score at will when he needs to. With that said, every NBA scout I've talked to about Washington believes he needs at least two years of school. No one Insider talked to has ever mentioned his name as a legit first-round draft prospect this year.
What's ironic is that it was Washington trying to give advice to Telfair before the McDonald's All-American Game.
"I just hope he understands that NBA stands for No Boys Allowed," Washington said a few weeks ago. "It's nothing like high school. Every night is a battle."
However, time spent at IMG with other draft prospects, such as Minnesota's Kris Humphries, apparently has changed his mind.
"Working out down here, I see the NBA is not a longshot for me. It's right behind the door. You just got to open it up and let it in," Washington told the Sentinel.
Be careful Darius. You can open the door, but the NBA can slam it right back in your face.
