"In Paris,
(Isiah Thomas) saw 6-11 Ukranian center Oleksiy Pecherov, slated to be drafted from 15th to 25th."
New York Post
"Florida Gators sophomore basketball players
Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer don't seem to care about the rumors and lure of joining the NBA Draft. The three plan to return to Gainesville, said people close to the players. The deadline is midnight Saturday to declare early entry to the June 28 draft."
Florida Today
"There's been no talk about the NBA," Brewer's older brother, Jason Rogan, said Thursday. "They're working hard and talking about what they have to do to win another championship. "I know for a fact they're going back to Florida."
Florida Today
"Pitt junior center
Aaron Gray declared for the 2006 NBA draft yesterday but will maintain his college eligibility by not hiring an agent. Gray's declaration was expected. He told the Post-Gazette in February that he likely would go through the NBA predraft process."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"According to one prominent NBA scout,
Gray has a chance to vault into the first round with a strong month of workouts. The NBA frowns on employees commenting on underclassmen, so he asked to remain anonymous."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"The scout said
Bradley's Patrick O'Bryant, who thoroughly outplayed Gray in an NCAA tournament game in March, is the only true center rated ahead of Gray going into the workouts. He said Gray's commitment to get into better shape, his ability to rebound and his soft hands are enough to make him someone NBA teams will covet in the June 28 draft. At worst, he said, Gray would get drafted in the second round."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"But, the scout said,
Gray has the potential to be a high first-round draft pick a year from now, which is something he will have to contemplate seriously. The No. 10 pick in the first round last season was guaranteed $4.9 million over three years."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"Florida State forward
Alexander Johnson, who initially left open the possibility of withdrawing from the NBA draft, told the Times on Thursday he was set on turning pro. "I'm going, no question," he said. "I'm 23. I'm ready to play with the big boys. That's my dream, and I'm close to my dream."
St. Petersburg Times
"
Kyle Lowry delivered the message many were waiting to hear yesterday - even him - when the Villanova sophomore point guard declared himself eligible for the NBA draft. Lowry, 20, left open the option of returning to school by not hiring an agent for the June 28 draft. He can withdraw his name until June 18."
Philadelphia Inquirer
"It was a very difficult decision," said Lowry, a graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School. "I thought long and hard about it, and I felt really good about the decision I made. "It's the opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream. A lot of people don't get to fulfill those things."
Philadelphia Inquirer
"
Wright said several NBA sources had told him that Lowry would be drafted in the first round, but Lowry knows that words and actions do not always match."
Philadelphia Inquirer
"An NBA scout, who asked to remain anonymous, said
where Lowry would be chosen would depend greatly on his performance in pre-draft camps."
Philadelphia Inquirer
"The scout said
Lowry was considered a late first-round pick because the draft does not have a strong class of point guards and because of Lowry's energy."
Philadelphia Inquirer
"I think I'm prepared for every worst-case scenario," Lowry said. "If I go second round, I'm prepared to do that. You never know. I might just say I'm not ready even if I hear first round. To come back to school or go to the NBA, I know it's a big risk."
Philadelphia Daily News
"
Europe and the NBDL are littered with cautionary tales, of players who thought and were told they were surefire first-round picks only to watch the draft come and go and never hear their name. Last year, Germantown Academy's Matt Walsh, who left Florida following his junior season, watched the entire draft pass him by and though he eventually signed a guaranteed contract with the Miami Heat, he was later released and sent to the D-League. Currently, he's working out, hoping to latch on with a team next year."
Philadelphia Daily News
"
Josh McRoberts decided being the main man at one of college basketball's top programs is better than heading to the NBA at age 19. Projected as a possible lottery pick in this year's NBA draft, the Carmel High School graduate decided to return to Duke for his sophomore season. The versatile 6-10 forward was the Blue Devils' third-leading scorer as a freshman, and likely will be the main option with the departure of seniors J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams."
Indianapolis Star
"
Marcus Williams, one of the top freshmen in the Pac-10 last season, has decided to stay at Arizona for another year rather than make himself available for the NBA draft. The 6-foot-7 forward from Roosevelt High School had strongly considered testing NBA waters but said he decided he needed another season of college basketball to boost his chance of being a high draft pick."
AP/Seattle Times
"Arkansas junior
Ronnie Brewer said Thursday he would make himself available for the NBA draft, but has not hired an agent in case he wants to return to school and play another year for the Razorbacks. "I just want to test the market to see where I can go," Brewer said in a news conference at Bud Walton Arena."
Houston Chronicle
"Renaldo Balkman has taken the second step toward trading in his USC garnet and black to pursue NBA green.
Balkman, a junior forward, will enter his name in the NBA draft but will not hire a sports agent, for now protecting his remaining year of college eligibility."
The State
"USC coach Dave Odom said Thursday that Balkman’s decision was based partly on a report by the NBA’s advisory panel. Odom said the panel, which is composed of
NBA general managers, predicted Balkman would be drafted no earlier than the middle of the second round. The evaluation, which Balkman applied for last week, also stated there was a chance he would not be drafted."
The State
