UCONN's Ben Gordon to Enter NBA Draft:

jblaze03fuel · 04-14-2004, 12:45 PM

By DONNA TOMMELLEO, Associated Press Writer
April 14, 2004

Quote:

STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- Ben Gordon of NCAA champion Connecticut will skip his senior year to enter the NBA draft, an athletic department source told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The announcement by the star guard will come at an afternoon news conference on campus, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Gordon averaged a team-leading 18.5 points for the Huskies, who beat Georgia Tech 82-73 for the national championship last week. He is projected as a top 10 pick in the draft.

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Gordon, who played at Mount Vernon High School in New York, told The Journal News of New York that he's ready to move on.

``It's time,'' Gordon told the newspaper in Wednesday's editions. ``I had a great experience at UConn, but I'm ready for what's next. I knew this is what I wanted from the beginning of the season, so why wait?''

Gordon averaged 21.2 points during the six games of the NCAA tournament.

``I think I've answered all the questions,'' he said. ``Now I want to go to the next level and see what I can do there. I know it's going to be a challenge but I've prepared myself. I talked it over with Coach, and we're all on the same page.''

UConn coach Jim Calhoun has said Gordon is ready for the NBA.

Gordon's teammate Emeka Okafor is also expected to skip his senior season. The All-American center will graduate early in May. He plans to hold a news conference later this week, the source said.

To be eligible for the June 24 draft, an underclassman must send a letter to the NBA by May 10. A player with eligibility remaining who has not signed with an agent must withdraw from draft consideration by June 17 to return to his college team.

This now means UCONN loses Talik Brown via graduation, then Gordon & Okafor via the NBA. I thought that if Gordon stayed, they could have a chance to repeat with such a deep and talented team. With Gordon gone, I seriously doubt they can now.

BleedingCubbyBlue · 04-14-2004, 01:06 PM

Okafor is also graduating.

jblaze03fuel · 04-14-2004, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BleedingCubbyBlue
Okafor is also graduating.

He's only a Jr.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/teams/cbp/roster

Hammer755 · 04-14-2004, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jblaze03fuel
He's only a Jr.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/teams/cbp/roster

But he is graduating

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp..._gordon_future

Quote:

Gordon's teammate Emeka Okafor is also expected to skip his senior season. The All-American center will graduate early in May. He plans to hold a news conference later this week, the source said.

jblaze03fuel · 04-14-2004, 01:56 PM

...like I posted, Talik Brown is graduating. AKA his eligibility is up and can't play. That's how I said it and that's what I meant. He thought Okafor was leaving b/c he was graduation.

He's not coming back b/c he's graduating now is he mr. mod?

BleedingCubbyBlue · 04-14-2004, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jblaze03fuel
...like I posted, Talik Brown is graduating. AKA his eligibility is up and can't play. That's how I said it and that's what I meant. He thought Okafor was leaving b/c he was graduation.

He's not coming back b/c he's graduating now is he mr. mod?

He is leaving because he is graduating. I was aware that he was graduating in 3 years and entering the draft.

BigBambino · 04-14-2004, 04:10 PM

Gordon will be a Top 10 pick according to WJAB 95.5.

Hammer755 · 04-14-2004, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BigBambino
Gordon will be a Top 10 pick according to WJAB 95.5.

I would venture a guess that either WJAB 95.5 is located in Storrs, CT or the host that said this just ingested an ample amount of crack.

Edit - Wow, after looking at some draft sites, he's projected anywhere from 6 to 8 to 10. I just don't see him as a Top 10 player.

BigBambino · 04-14-2004, 04:28 PM

It is out of Portland, Maine.

jblaze03fuel · 04-14-2004, 04:54 PM

The Cavs could use a backup PG here!!

jblaze03fuel · 04-14-2004, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BleedingCubbyBlue
He is leaving because he is graduating. I was aware that he was graduating in 3 years and entering the draft.

He's leaving b/c he's ready for the NBA.

KurtBevacqua · 04-14-2004, 05:05 PM

Gordon is a nice college player who played well in pressure situations, but he doesn't knock my socks off as a future all star. But in the cockamamy world of basketball players only lose value if they stay longer so he probably will never get a higher value in the draft than right now so it makes sense.

CubsSox · 04-14-2004, 05:19 PM

Anyone who knows anything about the NBA and its upcoming draft... Okafor and Deng (if he choose to enter) are the only picks that will be college players in the top 10. The rest will be high school or foreign.

If Nelson, Gordon, Devin Harris go that high... it'll be a surprise.

marc · 04-14-2004, 05:21 PM

He's definitely worthy of a top 10 and maybe even top 5. Remember, this is one of the weakest drafts in recent memory with probably 15-18 of the first round picks being out of High School or Europe. Gordon is the most talented guard in the draft (yes that includes Jameer Nelson who I think was spectacular and worthy of the awards he got). He has great ball handling ability, he can drive, shoot, and pass very well. Personally, behind Okafor and Nelson I think he is the surest pick in the draft to gaurentee yourself atleast a quality NBA player.

jblaze03fuel · 04-14-2004, 05:27 PM

I have ESPN Insider and Chad Fords mock draft has Gordon going #8 to the Toronto Raptors, and 5 foreign players in the top 14.

Okafor going to Orlando @ #1.

Devin Harris to CLE @ 10

yankeesrule · 04-15-2004, 09:46 AM

Most places I've read have Gordon listed among the top 10, depending on how the lottery balls bounce. Okafor and Howard going 1/2 depending on who gets the #1. Harris being the 2nd college guard taken and then Nelson being the 3rd somewhere in the late teens early 20's. The thing with Nelson is, most NBA scouts say he hasn't improved much since last season when everyone told him he wouldn't be a 1st rounder.

BigBambino · 04-15-2004, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yankeesrule
The thing with Nelson is, most NBA scouts say he hasn't improved much since last season when everyone told him he wouldn't be a 1st rounder.

I heard the exact opposite in my ESPN insider

04-14-2004, 01:06 PM	#2
BleedingCubbyBlue All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Gurnee, IL Posts: 601	Okafor is also graduating. __________________ http://www.otbaonline.com

04-14-2004, 01:56 PM	#5
jblaze03fuel All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 920	...like I posted, Talik Brown is graduating. AKA his eligibility is up and can't play. That's how I said it and that's what I meant. He thought Okafor was leaving b/c he was graduation. He's not coming back b/c he's graduating now is he mr. mod? Last edited by jblaze03fuel; 04-14-2004 at 01:58 PM.

04-14-2004, 05:05 PM	#12
KurtBevacqua Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,968	Gordon is a nice college player who played well in pressure situations, but he doesn't knock my socks off as a future all star. But in the cockamamy world of basketball players only lose value if they stay longer so he probably will never get a higher value in the draft than right now so it makes sense. __________________ "The type and formula of most schemes of philanthropy or humanitarianism is this: A and B put their heads together to decide what C shall be made to do for D. The radical vice of all these schemes, from a sociological point of view, is that C is not allowed a voice in the matter, and his position, character, and interests, as well as the ultimate effects on society through C's interests, are entirely overlooked. I call C the Forgotten Man" - William Graham Sumner Last edited by KurtBevacqua; 04-14-2004 at 05:16 PM.

04-14-2004, 05:19 PM	#13
CubsSox Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 206	Anyone who knows anything about the NBA and its upcoming draft... Okafor and Deng (if he choose to enter) are the only picks that will be college players in the top 10. The rest will be high school or foreign. If Nelson, Gordon, Devin Harris go that high... it'll be a surprise. __________________ It's me... Chae!

04-14-2004, 05:21 PM	#14
marc Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,505	He's definitely worthy of a top 10 and maybe even top 5. Remember, this is one of the weakest drafts in recent memory with probably 15-18 of the first round picks being out of High School or Europe. Gordon is the most talented guard in the draft (yes that includes Jameer Nelson who I think was spectacular and worthy of the awards he got). He has great ball handling ability, he can drive, shoot, and pass very well. Personally, behind Okafor and Nelson I think he is the surest pick in the draft to gaurentee yourself atleast a quality NBA player. __________________

04-14-2004, 04:10 PM	#7
BigBambino All Star Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: Auburn, ME Posts: 1,315	Gordon will be a Top 10 pick according to WJAB 95.5.

04-14-2004, 04:28 PM	#9
BigBambino All Star Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: Auburn, ME Posts: 1,315	It is out of Portland, Maine.

04-14-2004, 04:54 PM	#10
jblaze03fuel All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 920	The Cavs could use a backup PG here!!

04-14-2004, 05:27 PM	#15
jblaze03fuel All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 920	I have ESPN Insider and Chad Fords mock draft has Gordon going #8 to the Toronto Raptors, and 5 foreign players in the top 14. Okafor going to Orlando @ #1. Devin Harris to CLE @ 10 Last edited by jblaze03fuel; 04-14-2004 at 05:34 PM.

04-15-2004, 09:46 AM	#16
yankeesrule All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,367	Most places I've read have Gordon listed among the top 10, depending on how the lottery balls bounce. Okafor and Howard going 1/2 depending on who gets the #1. Harris being the 2nd college guard taken and then Nelson being the 3rd somewhere in the late teens early 20's. The thing with Nelson is, most NBA scouts say he hasn't improved much since last season when everyone told him he wouldn't be a 1st rounder.