Dick Scanlon of the Lakeland Ledger reports: It worked for Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady, who were established as multimillionaire NBA stars while most players their age were still in college.

But jumping directly from high school to the NBA is a risky proposition. For every Kobe, TMac and KG, there has been a Korleone Young, a Leon Smith, an Ellis Richardson, a Taj McDavid and others who bypassed college basketball and failed in the NBA.

Amare Stoudemire, now a senior at Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, is at the front of the line of players who will soon face that choice.

"Next year? It all depends," says Stoudemire, who grew up in Lake Wales. "Hopefully, I look to be in the NBA one day, but maybe not next year."

However, every indication is that the 6-foot-10 Stoudemire will go directly to the NBA as a high first-round pick. In the basketball scouting world, Stoudemire has better credentials than at least three of the four high school school players who were drafted among the top eight picks last year -- Tyson Chandler, Eddie Curry and DeSagana Diop.

"He's had a tough past. The question is, has he learned from it and moved forward," observed Gary Brokow, the Orlando Magic's director of player personnel. "He wouldn't be the only one who's had a tough background, a tough past, and has gone on to be successful."