Undecided Robinson Wins Wooden Award : College basketball: Purdue star easily outdistances rivals, but doesn’t easily talk about decision on college or NBA future.

The basketball coronation of Purdue’s Glenn Robinson continued Friday as the All-American junior forward was named winner of the John R. Wooden Award. Any more of these things and Robinson will have to ice down his shoulder, what with all the heavy trophy lifting.

A plane delay out of Chicago caused Robinson, who led the nation in two NCAA categories--scoring and most times asked, “Are you turning pro?”--to arrive at the Los Angeles Athletic Club nearly 30 minutes after Wooden himself had opened the envelope and made the official announcement.

Wooden did what he could to add some suspense, but it was hardly worth the trouble. Everyone in the room, including the three other finalists who attended the brief ceremony, knew whose name belonged on the trophy.

“The winner is a gentleman from an area and a school of which I’m somewhat familiar,” said Wooden, the famed former UCLA coach who starred at Purdue in the early 1930s.

How long Robinson plans to stay in familiar surroundings remains unclear. Projected as the No. 1 selection in the June 29 NBA draft, Robinson has until the middle of May to declare his intentions.

So far, at least publicly, Robinson remains noncommittal about his plans.

“There’s not a timetable,” he said. “Whatever I decide to do, you guys will be the first to know.”

Robinson said that speculation about his senior season--will he or won’t he?--has gotten to the point “that people don’t even ask my name anymore.” But one thing is for sure: If Robinson does leave early, it won’t be under the auspices of the new NCAA rule that allows underclassmen to regain their eligibility within 30 days of the draft.

“If I say I’m leaving, I’m leaving,” he said. “I’m not going to play around.”

According to one source close to the situation, Robinson recently indicated that he plans to forgo his final season at Purdue. If true, a consultant for an NBA team said, the 6-foot-8 forward would be the likely top choice in the draft.

Robinson’s playing future might remain a mystery, but his selection as the Wooden Award winner was no shocker. His 4,930 balloting points easily outdistanced the totals of Duke senior swingman Grant Hill (3,862), Connecticut junior forward Donyell Marshall (3,585), California sophomore point guard Jason Kidd (3,461) and Louisville junior center Clifford Rozier (1,818).

Unlike last year, when only two of the five finalists attended the ceremony, the dais included all but Rozier, who was unable to attend because of academic obligations. Also on hand were coaches Gene Keady of Purdue, Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, Denny Crum of Louisville, Todd Bozeman of Cal and Jim Calhoun of Connecticut.

Hill, who held Robinson to a season-low 13 points in Duke’s NCAA Southeast Regional final victory, said he would have voted for the Purdue forward.

“To do what he has done is amazing,” said Hill, whose team lost to Arkansas in Monday night’s championship game. “Just his ability to carry his team on his shoulders is something else. He did a lot of things, mainly his scoring. He may be the best shooter in the country, the way he shoots the ball, right in your face, is really amazing.”

Hill is certain to be a top-three or top-four NBA selection. The same goes for Kidd, who already has announced his decision to forgo his final two seasons at Cal. Marshall, as well as Rozier, have yet to decide what to do.

And then there is Robinson.

For what it’s worth, Hill, who stayed at Duke all four years, offered advice.

“In a way, I’ve got mixed feelings,” Hill said. “Part of me would say he should enjoy his last year. I know I’ve enjoyed my last year. I know he has a good team returning with a chance of going far in the (NCAA) tournament and maybe possibly winning it. I would tell him to take advantage of that. You’re only in college one time and it’s the last time before you’re in the real world. I’d tell him to have fun and really enjoy it.

“At the same time, I’d really like him to come out with me. For both of us to come into the league at the same time would be something really special, along with Jason and hopefully Donyell. All of us (could) come in together and wreak havoc out there.”

Perhaps it was wishful thinking, but when Keady accepted the award for Robinson, who was en route from the airport, the Purdue coach said: “Hopefully, he can come back and get another one of these next year. But we’ll have to wait to see about that one.”

At the very latest, the wait ends on May 15.

The Vote

A look at the top 10 candidates in the balloting for the John R. Wooden Award as the nation’s outstanding collegiate basketball player:

Player School Votes Glenn Robinson Purdue 4,930 Grant Hill Duke 3,862 Donyell Marshall Connecticut 3,585 Jason Kidd California 3,461 Clifford Rozier Louisville 1,818 Jalen Rose Michigan 1,802 Corliss Williamson Arkansas 1,683 Khalid Reeves Arizona 1,319 Eric Montross N.Carolina 1,313 Damon Bailey Indiana 1,285