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A few high school players declared with an eye on next year's potential 20-year-old age limit. A number of college underclassmen are making the jump to get a free tryout at the all-expense paid Chicago pre-draft camp.
Some still, and will, go back to college by withdrawing their names from the NBA's early-entry list by June 19. Some players, however, declared for the draft with no choice of returning because of academic eligibility issues. Others are simply getting poor advice.
Monday was the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NBA Draft. Several names on the list were expected, while some are simply testing their draftability over the next month. It's not a bad move, considering the NCAA has given players the option to play in Chicago's camp (June 4-9) without a penalty upon return to school.
Those who don't sign with an agent, and don't see their stock rise in scouts' eyes, must sooner or later face facts in the coming weeks. And, if they refuse to do so, and don't withdraw from the draft by the deadline, then their decisions could be viewed in a different light.
The bottom line: Players have to prove they're making the right move by becoming one of those all-important 29 first-round picks.
But, for now, here is our take on the decisions made by underclassmen over the past month -- both good and bad -- after discussing each player's situation with more than a few NBA teams:
Good Decisions
|  | | As the desire of every NBA team, LeBron James' choice to skip college is easy. |
LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary HS (Akron, Ohio): Please, James had no choice. He was and still remains the clear choice to be the overall No. 1 pick in the June 26 draft. Even if he wanted to go to college, he couldn't because he wouldn't have been eligible. James broke amateurism rules over the past few summers, according to numerous NCAA sources. But, college was never in the LeBron equasion. James is probably the biggest consensus No. 1 in years.
Carmelo Anthony, Fr., Syracuse: Anthony won the NCAA Tournament. He was the Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four. He's a likely top three pick. Why shouldn't he have declared? Anthony said it himself when he told the assembled media in Syracuse that he had nothing left to do for the Orangemen.
Chris Bosh, Fr., Georgia Tech: Bosh didn't deliver an NCAA Tournament berth to Yellow Jacket fans -- let alone a championship, like Anthony -- but he still had no choice by to leave after one season in Atlanta. Bosh will likely land somewhere in the top five, and it makes sense for him to go in this draft. Sure, he could be better in the post and become more of a physical presence. But how much higher could he go? No. 1 or No. 2 isn't out of the question next season, when he would likely go against Emeka Okafor as the top post player out of college. But being No. 4 isn't so bad, is it?
T.J. Ford, So., Texas: Ford won the national player of the year (Wooden, Naismith, ESPN.com) and didn't have more to prove individually. He got the Longhorns to the Final Four and could have come back for a repeat visit as well as more awards. But he is likely going to go in the top five in this draft. Why not go now if that's the case?
Chris Kaman, Jr., Central Michigan: Get to know Kaman, he's now the best American-based big man in the draft when UConn's Okafor decided to stay with the Huskies. Kaman delivered Central Michigan into the NCAA Tournament and that helped his stock, too. Kaman could have gone a few spots higher if he returned for a senior seasn, but he's a lock for the top 10 and that's why he had to declare.
Dwyane Wade, Jr., Marquette: Wade won Conference USA player of the year and then led Marquette to the Final Four. He has family pressure to deliver financially with a wife and child. He has given more to the Eagles than they have to him, so he had little choice but to declare and stay in the draft. He's a lock for the lottery, which is why this decision can't be questioned.
Jarvis Hayes, Jr., Georgia: Hayes made the right decision to declare, considering the Bulldogs face more sanctions in the wake of alleged academic violations. Hayes also is a likely lottery selection, which makes his decision more palatable. He's leaving his twin brother, Jonas, behind but he can make up for it with a financial reward the family will no doubt enjoy.
Luke Ridnour, Jr., Oregon: Ridnour could go higher in 2004 if he returns to Oregon. And while his spot in the lottery isn't assured, he didn't make a poor choice. He's one of the top point guards in the draft and he's got a legit chance to play his way up if he works out well over the next month. Oregon would have been back in the NCAAs next season, but he might have hit some senioritis if he had returned.
Michael Sweetney, Jr., Georgetown: Sweetney's stock is rising and he's done well the past two seasons in proving he can be a legit low-post scorer. Sure, he might have been able to move up a few more spots next year, but he's still probably would have been a back end of the lottery player. So, why not declare when there is a buzz about him?
Bad Decisions
|  | | Another year at Kentucky would have made Marquis Estill's task of getting into the first round easier. |
Antonio Lawrence, Fr., San Jose State: He spent one year with the Spartans and didn't do nearly enough to go higher than maybe the second round, if at all. Lawrence was quoted as saying he is doing this for the money. Huh? How about making some first. He could struggle to get a 'D' league contract.
Ronald Blackshear, Jr., Marshall: Blackshear seems to have a problem staying in one place. He couldn't stick at Clemson, Temple and now Marshall. Blackshear isn't ready for primetime and needed another season to stand out to feel secure about being a second-round pick.
James Lang, H.S., Central Park Christian (Ala.): Weight is a major concern with Lang. And the word was he might not have been eligible at any of the schools recruiting him. If he were, then he needed to go and try college first to move up in any future draft. Spending one season in college helped Anthony and Bosh tremendously. Lang shouldn't have followed their lead.
Erazem Lorbek, Fr., Michigan State: Lorbek came to the U.S. to get tougher and play a more physical style under Tom Izzo. He did so later in the 2002-03 season, but playing well for a month isn't enough to tantalize NBA scouts. Ironically enough, Lorbek actually would have gone higher if he never came to the U.S. Lorbek intrigued NBA scouts because few had seen him. Once they did in Spartan green, and saw he was not strong enough to bang in the Big Ten post, then they started to have reservations.
Josh Powell, So., N.C. State: If Powell stays in the draft he will have made a major mistake. If he is just testing the draft process then he will move off this list. There is no buzz about Powell's chances to crack the first round. He has to work just to get his draft status solidified in the second round. All he is doing is giving Herb Sendek an ulcer as he sweats out Powell's decision to stay in the draft.
Marquis Estill, Sr., Kentucky: Estill had a chance to earn back a fourth season of eligibility if he got his grades in order in the spring and over the summer. If he had then Kentucky would have solved their questions in the middle and Estill could have possibly moved into the first round -- of 2004's draft. Instead, Estill will struggle to get into next month's first 29 picks and will have to earn his keep as a second-round pick.
Jason Parker, Jr., Tulsa: Parker could just be testing the draft process. That's fine, if he can even get an invite to Chicago. Parker might not get the note from Marty Blake, and if he doesn't, then all he did was waste time, paper and give agents a chance to contact him.
Brian Polk, Jr., Temple: The word is that Polk didn't have grades to go back to Temple. If that was the case, and he had no choice, then Polk had nothing to lose by declaring. But if he had been eligible, he would have at least given himself a chance over the next 12 months to make a serious run at being a second-round pick.
Doug Wrenn, Jr., Washington: Like Blackshear, Wrenn can't stay in any one place too long, either. Wrenn had a shot to make more of a name for himself had he stayed at Washington for his senior season. Instead, he'll take his erratic scoring ability to the league ... the 'D' league.
Undecided Decisions
|  | | Chris Thomas is giving NBA teams an up-close and personal look at his skills this month. |
Chris Thomas, So., Notre Dame: Thomas said he will stay in the draft if he's in the top 20. He might be around 21 or 22. If that's the case, it's close enough likely for Thomas to still stay in the draft. He's got a chance to prove he should go higher. If he can do that this wasn't a bad decision.
Rick Rickert, So., Minnesota: Rickert has already made it clear that he's staying in the draft. That's fine if he ultimately lands in the first round. If Rickert left Minnesota to be a second-round pick then he's made a major mistake. The questions remain about Rickert's strength to play at the NBA level. He can add bulk, but he might have needed one more season in Minnesota.
Jameer Nelson, Jr., Saint Joseph's: Nelson declared during the final minutes of the deadline. He is hoping to get an invite to Chicago and get the free tryout. If he can get into the first round then this will end up being a good decision. Nelson's height isn't going to change. He has to convince the NBA scouts that he is worthy of being a first-round pick. That same question will haunt him next season. If he returns to Saint Joseph's, he has a chance to be a first-team all-American and Atlantic 10 player of the year. His jersey will be retired and he'll end up being one of the best players ever to play for the Hawks.
Marcus Moore, Jr., Washington State: It's hard to blame Moore. He got hurt last season and would have to make a radical style change with new coach Dick Bennett running things in Pulman. Paul Graham played uptempo, while Bennett will be more methodical. If Moore can play his way up into the high second round then this wasn't a bad move.
Travis Outlaw, H.S., Starkville, Miss.: Outlaw has limited fundamentals but he is a sensational athlete. His dunks are a highlight reel by themselves. If he gets into the first round then it's arguably a good decision. But if he does not, then it will be a poor choice. Outlaw could really benefit by going to Mississippi State for a few years.
Carl English, Jr., Hawaii: English is one of the better shooting guards in this draft. He has an outside chance of shooting himself into the first round. If English had returned to Hawaii then he could have created even more buzz about his shot. If he is a hit in Chicago then making the jump now will have been a smart move.
Mario Austin, Jr., Mississippi State: Austin was a hit early in the season, but the buzz on him cooled a bit later in the year. Austin had a chance to be the 2004 SEC player of the year if he returned to the Bulldogs. He could have led them on a deep run in the NCAAs. He would have had momentum for the draft. Now, that could be in question.
Ndudi Ebi, H.S., Westbury Christian (Houston): Ebi would be wise to honor his signing with Arizona and benefit from Lute Olson's teaching. But if Ebi can somehow sneak into the late lottery then it would be hard to argue with his decision. He has to workout and show he is that talented. If not, then he'll regret this decision.
Andre Emmett, Jr., Texas Tech: Emmett had his issues with Bob Knight at one point during the season. Maybe he wanted a change, but had Emmett returned then he had a chance to be Big 12 player of the year. He could still go back to Lubbock, but if he stays in the draft and slips to the second round, then he made a mistake.
Ricky Minard, Jr., Morehead State: If Minard is getting a free tryout in Chicago then this doesn't hurt. But if he's just going to stay in the draft and end up in the second round then he has made a mistake. Minard needed to make more of a name at Morehead before bolting.
Theron Smith, Sr., Ball State: Smith, the MAC's 2002 player of the year, was injured this season and could have returned for a second senior year. Instead, he chose to try the draft. But scouts are concerned about the strength of his knee, which he originally injured in a NBA workout last year when he declared early. If it doesn't test well then this will turn out to be a poor decision.
Maurice Williams, So., Alabama: Williams could shoot up the 2004 draft if he returns to the Tide next season. He could still get into this year's first round, but it could be a reach. If he stays in the draft, and ends up falling into the second round, then this was a major mistake for his career.
Charlie Villanueva, H.S., Blair Academy (N.J.): Villanueva has first-round talent, but maybe not until next year. Villanueva would have benefited from playing at Kansas or Connecticut for one season. He could still opt for college, but he better be sure he's in the top 25 before he decides to stay in the draft.
Kendrick Perkins, H.S., Beaumont Ozen (Texas): John Calipari has no qualms about Perkins declaring for the draft as long as he doesn't stay in it. If Perkins isn't a top-20 pick then he's making a big error in judgment. Perkins is a borderline first-round pick, but could be an Elton Brand-type talent two years from now if he is patient.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
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