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Friday, July 6
Updated: July 20, 11:40 AM ET
The Word's Answer Man
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The Answer Man is back throughout the offseason. Andy Katz tackles some of the questions he receives each week.
This isn't a question. This is a statement coming from an angry fan who is still in disbelief over the lack of respect that Michigan State, one of the top programs in the nation, is still recieving.
In the Weekly Chatter the section about the USA Basketball team it says Michigan's Marcus Taylor. I thought to myself, Michigan??? How does Andy Katz of all people confuse the two programs. It's Michigan State that has made three straight Final Four apprearances. It is Michigan State that has had two players drafted in the first round two straight years. It is Michigan State that has Tom Izzo, one of the best coahces in the nation.
Michigan State University and it's players are known by every sports writer in the nation -- why are you still having problems getting it straight?? A lot of Spartans enjoy your opinion, so maybe next time you'll proof read your article and not risk losing some of your readers.
Alan Borman
Birmingham, Mich.
Alan, that was my mistake. It was a typo and wasn't made in any way to "disrespect" Michigan State. It was also quickly corrected and I appreciate your prompt response. There is no reason to get testy. But the beauty of our business is that we can make a quick correction if we have to on a typo and hopefully the same readers will come back see the same story. This isn't an excuse. It was a mistake and we apologize for anyone who was offended by the word "State" not being next to Michigan when referring to Marcus Taylor.
Good article about the forgotten players who didn't get drafted or who were picked in the second round. But even more telling is the lack of attention paid to the "other" high-schoolers -- Ousmane Cisse and Tony Key. Cisse was picked in the second round, and Key wasn't drafted at all. With all the attention levied on the top four high-schoolers, you have to ask, who was advising these two guys? And why isn't more being said about them in an effort to alert other high-schoolers that it's far from a sure thing to get drafted in the first round?
Greg
Somerville, Mass.
Well Greg, Cisse had an advisor in his ear that was absolutely convinced that he would be a first-round pick. He wasn't and now he's got to go the harder route of being a second-round pick. Second-round picks can and do get guaranteed contracts for one to two seasons but it's not a sure thing like being in the first round. Cisse can use Rashard Lewis as an example instead of Korleone Young. Key might end up in the developmental league, where Cisse could join him if he doesn't make the Nuggets. Key wasn't academically eligible and had few choices. He could have tried to sit out at a school that takes ineligible players, go to a junior college or wait for a call from the developmental league. He had nothing to lose by declaring for the draf once he decided he wasn't going to attend college. He's still a raw talent that needs years of "schooling" before he's ready to be a pro.
While I was not suprised when D.A. Layne and Tony Key were left out of the NBA draft, I have yet to understand the omission of Casey Calvary of Gonzaga. He is a legitimate athlete and proved himself against worthy competition three years in a row during the tournament. It seems he suffered from the same perceptions that hurt Shane Battier. Do you think he has a chance for signing on with an NBA team or the soon-to-be developmental league?
Todd Allen
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
I was shocked Calvary didn't get drafted in the second round. He's just as good a shooter as Brian Scalabrine and can put the ball on the floor, too. Calvary had a subpar Desert Classic camp in Tempe, Ariz., in May and for some reason that stuck with the scouts and the NBA. He wasn't invited to Chicago, which hurt him, considering Scalabrine was there moving ahead of him on the draft chart. Calvary will have options overseas but he's not ruling out earning a spot in the fall. He should be on a summer team this month and will have a chance to get a spot in a veteran camp in October. Don't lose faith in him just yet.
Could you please start, at the very least, mentioning teams from smaller Div. I conferences? It's all majors, all the time with you. A perfect example of a conference that you should take a look at more often is the MAAC. The MAAC is gaining massive levels of popularity in New York and metro areas, and somehow none of their teams appear on your radar screen. Why is that? Here is a chance to redeem yourself, with my question for the Weekly Word: Do you think that Fairfield's addition of UConn transfer Ajou Deng gives them the inside track for next year's MAAC title? Carpe Diem, Andy. Carpe Diem.
Bob
Boston
Bob, did you see the item on Northwestern State in last week's Weekly Word? I would hardly say that I ignore the mid- to low-major programs. But for the purposes of answering your question, I would say Fairfield will still have to deal with traditional powers Iona and Siena, as well as trouble spots at Niagara, Canisisus and Manhattan. I'm not sold on Deng being an impact player at Fairfield because he still hasn't shown that he can be a player who carries a team. If he's the second or third option, and he still might be, then it could be a better situation for him. It's not like the talent dropoff is tremendously different from each league. There are star players who would rule the MAAC, but the athletic wings are still comparable. MAAC teams usually don't have the size that a Big East school does and that could be to Deng's advantage. But he still has to find his true position. He's still in between a power forward because of his height and a small forward because of his shooting ability.
How can you not include Chapel Hill as one of the best places to play summer pickup games? What is better than a game with Ed Cota, Vince Carter, Antwaan Jamison, Rasheed Wallace, Jerry Stackhouse, MJ on occasion, Jackie Manual, Jawad Williams, Melvin Scott, Neil Fingleton? There are so many good players in Chapel Hill during the summer. The Smith Center is the place to be for pickup. All of the Duke players even come over and play because they know it too.
Whit Brannon
Chapel Hill, N.C.
Whit, you missed the point. It wasn't a case of saying Michigan State is the best place to watch pickup games with former players from that school. I was merely using the Spartans as an example. I would agree that North Carolina is one of the best places for summer pickup when everyone is in town. I have heard about the games and would concur that having Manuel, Williams and Scott exposed to present and former Tar Heels, as well as Blue Devils, makes for immeasurable experience.
Next year is mentioned as a great year for PGs: Jason and Frank Williams, Jameer Nelson, and DaJuan Wagner. Why isn't Dan Dickau mentioned more often? He's fast, he shoots the lights out, he can finish, he can pass, and he's a winner (look at Gonzaga's winning pct. with him vs. when he was injured). If you'll allow me my opinion, Dickau's better than all of the above except Jason Williams.
Tom Harmon
Washington D.C.
You might have plenty of supporters with your opinion by summer's end if Dickau takes over the World University Games team. Jason Williams is sitting out the summer, but Dickau will lead the older group heading to China. Frank Williams and Jameer Nelson are expected to be on the younger team going to Japan. Dickau should and will be considered one of the top four point guards in the nation next season. He's on the pros radar screen as a can't miss first-round pick next June. Gonzaga's return to the NCAA Tournament will hinge on Dickau, just like Duke, Illinois, St. Joe's and Memphis will on their point guards. The reason Dickau doesn't get the same treatment is he plays in the Northwest and Gonzaga doesn't get the TV time during the regular season. But that could change next season with likely TV games against Illinois, St. John's in Alaska, New Mexico and possibly St. Joe's.
Did Michael Dunleavy Jr. tryout for the USA team? I saw that he was invited but he wasn't among the 16 finalists.
Pete Teevens
Minneapolis
Dunleavy Jr. passed on trying out for the team because of a summer school commitment. If he had gone he would have been a lock for the team.
What happens to all the questions that get submitted to you but don't get answered? Do they go to the unanswered questions purgatory? Here's one: How will the Providence Friars be in 2001? Do you see them making the NCAA tourney?
Bill
Hoboken, N.J.
Bill we had to go deep into the delete file to find your question and save it from this purgatory you speak of on the site. Providence will still be as good as John Linehan. When he's on the court, the Friars defense is usually tough to get around. He's the heart and soul of this club. The Friars are still deep with shooters but lack the dominant presence they had with Karim Shabazz last season. Tim Welsh has the community excited and making another run to the NCAA Tournament is definitely within reach. I would be shocked if they're not in the hunt for a spot in March.
My question pertains to past "retreat rights" for players leaving early for the NBA. I remember a couple years back when Vashon Leonard declared for the draft out of Minnesota following his junior year. He was picked, I think, by Milwaukee in the second round (No. 46 in 1994) and didn't like his draft position, and returned to Minnesota for his senior year. I remember the agreement between the NCAA and NBA was that a player had 30 days after the draft to return to school if he so chose. Is that an accurate assessment? Also -- could a player then put himself back in the draft the next year (i.e., did the Bucks retain Leonard's rights after his senior year or was he actually drafted by Miami the next year)?
Ken McManus
Queens, N.Y.
That rule was changed. If you're drafted, you can't go back to school. If you're drafted, a team holds your rights for a year and then they expire before the next draft. A player who isn't drafted can go back to school if he doesn't sign with an agent, reimburses any expenses incurred for workouts for an NBA-sponsored camp,and then writes a letter to his athletic director requesting within 30 days of the draft, requesting permission to have his eligibility restored.
After eating crow regarding Jason Williams and his decision to stay at Duke, do you have any other valuable insights as to what other college players will leave early this year? Any thoughts on Chris Duhon leaving with Jason? Thanks.
Joel Scoler
Toronto
I beg to differ Joel. I never said Jason Williams would declare for the draft. If you remember the articles, they were talking about NBA executives and scouts wanting Williams to be in the draft. There was never a story saying Williams will declare for the draft because Williams never said it. No word on Duhon yet.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
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