March 2007 Basketball Wiretap

Curry Declares For Draft

Apr 27, 2007 7:35 PM

According to a report by The Oklahoman, junior point guard JamesOn Curry has announced his intention to declare for the draft but will not hire an agent.

Curry was the team's second-leading scorer last season, averaging 17.3 points per game. He also led Oklahoma State in assists.

"It's a win-win situation," he said. "I'm going to be motivated to go out and play and have them tell me what I need to work

ESPN

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Kansas' Rush To Turn Pro, Delays Hiring Agent

Apr 27, 2007 11:22 AM

Kansas sophomore Brandon Rush will enter the NBA draft, he told the Kansas City Star in an interview.

"I'm ready to take the next step," Rush, who led the Jayhawks in scoring the past two seasons, told the newspaper. "I'm ready to make a better life for me and my family."

Kansas was expected to officially announce Rush's decision on Friday, and Rush told the Star he would not hold a news conference to make the announcement. Instead, he will be in Dallas for the weekend.

"I'm saying all that needs to be said right now," he told the newspaper. "I'm just ready to get away for a little while and chill."

ESPN

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New Rule Stops Private Workouts Before Pre-Draft Camp

Apr 27, 2007 3:53 AM

A new rule implemented by the NBA this year bans all private workouts before the NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando, which runs June 4-8. Any workouts held during the camp must be made available to all teams, the Memphis Commercial-Appeal is reporting.

''A guy like Tarence (Kinsey), we pinpointed him all year,'' Grizzlies director of player personnel Tony Barone Sr. said. ''Then, we brought him. Maybe that guy, you don't even bring him in now. That's a possibility.''

The logic behind eliminating the workouts before the pre-draft camp was that it would get more players, especially those projected to be selected in the late first round to second round, to participate in Orlando.

In recent years, an increasing number of players chose to skip both the Orlando camp and the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, held in Virginia in early April. Instead, they would travel to different NBA cities and participate in the private workouts.

''We're taking a different path out of necessity,'' NBA vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson said early this season. ''We want to try to improve the attendance and quality of the pre-draft camp.''

Barone understands the thought process behind the NBA's intentions. But he isn't sure how it's going to play out.

''There's been controversy about that,'' Barone said. ''The thought process was move these workouts after Orlando. That would force the agents to play those players who were borderline first-round picks, and maybe some first-round picks, into Orlando. I don't know that that's going to happen.

''Portsmouth was a little bit better than it's been in the past. The trickle down was supposed to have been there would be more borderline guys in Portsmouth, and then the better players would be in Orlando. I don't know that that's going to happen. So that's going to be an issue. We don't know how it's going to affect us yet.''

Memphis Commercial-Appeal

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Marquette's James Declares For Draft

Apr 26, 2007 5:19 PM

Marquette sophomore guard Dominic James declared for the NBA draft on Thursday, but will not hire an agent.

"This is an opportunity that I want to take advantage of," James said in a statement. "Coach (Tom Crean) and I talked about our goals at the beginning of the season and one was the option of being drafted. The time is now to take advantage of that option."

USA Today

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Belinelli Declares For Draft

Apr 26, 2007 1:19 PM

Climamio Bologna guard Marco Belinelli has declared himself available for the NBA Draft.

Belinelli was selected with the 22nd pick in RealGM's most recent mock draft.

Belinelli has averaged 17.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists for the Italian club this season.

SI.com

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Collison Staying At UCLA

Apr 25, 2007 5:24 PM

UCLA guard Darren Collison will return to school for his junior year rather than enter the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-1, 165-pounder from Rancho Cucamonga made the announcement Wednesday, four days before the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft. The Bruins reached the Final Four for the second straight year before losing to Florida.

AP

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Thabeet Now Leaning Towards Returning To UConn?

Apr 25, 2007 3:07 PM

The latest from the Hasheem Thabeet saga says that he?s currently leaning towards returning to UConn next year. This according to a source we spoke to this evening. A story written by Andy Katz on ESPN.com seems to imply that in a backhanded way as well.

Thabeet?s guardian Oliver Noah on the other hand did not seem to know either way what the situation is. ?I have no idea,? Oliver told DraftExpress on Tuesday. ?I talked to Hasheem today, and he didn?t say anything. He has 5 more days, and a decision will come this week. I will find out more tomorrow.?

DraftExpress

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Source: Rush To Declare For Draft On Friday

Apr 25, 2007 12:17 PM

Brandon Rush will be announcing his intentions to enter the draft at a press conference on Friday, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to DraftExpress on Tuesday.

Rush will preserve his NCAA eligibility by not hiring an agent at this time, and will be waiting to see whether he is projected as a top-20 pick before he decides whether to keep his name in the draft. Rush will be meeting with Kansas? coaching staff tomorrow (Wednesday) to inform them of his decision.

DraftExpress

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Vols' Lofton To Stay For Senior Year

Apr 24, 2007 2:54 PM

Tennessee guard Chris Lofton, the SEC player of the year, will stay for his senior season.

Lofton said Tuesday he wasn't projected high enough in the upcoming NBA draft to warrant leaving school early.

"I think I knew all along I was coming back anyway," he said during a news conference with coach Bruce Pearl. "It was just a little part of me in my mind of waiting to see how everything shakes out. I'm not surprised by this."

AP

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Georgia Tech's Young Declares For Draft

Apr 24, 2007 2:29 PM

Georgia Tech forward Thaddeus Young entered his name in the NBA draft, but could return for his sophomore season because he hasn't hired an agent.  

Young was projected by RealGM in their latest mock draft as being the 10th player selected.

Coach Paul Hewitt said Tuesday that Young submitted his name to learn more about his status from NBA personnel.

"I'm enjoying my experience at Georgia Tech, both with the basketball program and in school," Young said in a statement released by the school. "Right now, my focus is in finishing out this semester and then gathering more information from the NBA people."

Globe And Mail

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Wright Plans To Enter NBA Draft, But Keeps Options Open

AP

Report: Wright To Announce He's Leaving School On Monday

FoxSports

Green '70-30' On Returning To Georgetown

Sports Illustrated

NBA Decision Could Come Soon For UNC's Wright

ESPN

Baylor's Bruce Declares For Draft

San Antonio Express-News

Oden Officially Declares For Draft

SI.com

Sources: Oden To Declare, Sign With Agent

FoxSports

Nick Young Officially Declares For NBA Draft

ESPN

Green 70% Sure He's Returning To Georgetown

FoxSports

GW Junior Rice Submits Name For Draft

AP

Nick Young Expected To Declare

L.A. Times

Conley Sr.: Oden Hasn't Decided On Draft

AP

Father Says Oden Will Enter NBA Draft

Indianapolis Star

Green And Hibbert To Test NBA Waters

SI.com

China's Seven-Foot Power Forward Heads To United States

Yahoo!

UCLA's Afflalo To Turn Pro

AP

Hansbrough, Lawson Will Return To UNC

AP

Durant Announces NBA Decision

Houston Chronicle

Durant Will Reportedly Enter Draft

ESPN

Cal's Hardin To Test NBA Draft Marketability

AP