St. Joseph's point guard Jameer Nelson came to the NBA pre-draft camp this week to make one of the most important decisions of his life. Should he turn pro or return to school for his senior year?

Nelson is the best to play at the Philadelphia school since Olympic forward Mike Bantom in 1973. He is a natural leader who is coming off an outstanding regular season that started with his scoring 26 points against Troy Bell in a blowout victory over Boston College and ended when he drilled Dayton for 39 in the Atlantic 10 semis. In the NCAAs, he scored 32 in a first-round loss to Auburn. USA Basketball wanted him on the Pan-Am team so badly, officials offered him a waiver into the final tryouts so he could complete a summer-school course.

If Nelson stays, he should be a first-team preseason All-American. If he keeps his name in the draft after June 19, there is no guarantee he will even be a first-round pick because he does not have the size scouts covet at the position.

"If he was 6-3, he'd be in the lottery," one scout said. "But he's not."