Iverson Mum on NBA Plans

Georgetown sophomore guard Allen Iverson isn’t ready to say if he is coming out of school two years early. But some NBA observers won’t hesitate to say he isn’t ready to play in the pros.

Sources have said that Iverson intends to forgo his final two season of eligibility and enter the NBA draft. The deadline for applying for early entry to the draft is May 12. Players can return to school without losing eligibility within 30 days of the draft if they do not sign with an agent.

NBA personnel gathered in Portsmouth, Va., for a predraft tournament reacted to speculation about Iverson.

“I don’t think any of these guys (underclassmen) are ready,” said Marty Blake, NBA director of scouting services. “I said last year Iverson wasn’t ready; he’s still not ready. I don’t even bother to look at guys like Iverson.

“He’s quick, but I don’t know about his ability to play 100 games. His deliverability is better this year than last year. I think he’s making a terrible mistake in coming out.”

Billy Knight, Indiana Pacers director of player personnel, said: “I wish he would go back to school. I wish every young guy would go back to school. I don’t like to give these young kids fuel for their fire.”

“He’s got NBA speed and quickness; he’s competitive,” said Brad Greenburg, a former American University guard and personnel man for the Portland Trail Blazers and a consultant for several NBA teams. “He’s got a very bright future in the NBA. He’s going to be considered along with (Stephon) Marbury as the top small player to come out. I find it hard for anyone to take somebody ahead of Tim Duncan.”

Duncan, Wake Forest’s junior center, has given no indication that he will declare for the draft. Marbury announced Wednesday that he would leave Georgia Tech after only one year there.

The potential entry of other non-seniors such as Massachusetts junior center Marcus Camby or Connecticut junior guard Ray Allen could affect Iverson’s draft position should he decide to leave this year.

Iverson “could be the first player taken,” Washington Bullets General Manager John Nash said. “At this point, we don’t know who’s in the draft. Of the seniors and the guys who have announced, he’s got as good a chance as anyone of being drafted number one.

“I would encourage him to stay in school, but how do you discourage someone from accepting a place in the top three, four or five in the draft?

Nash said Iverson “just needs to refine his game. There are those who are critical of his assists-to-turnovers ratio, which is not as efficient as you’d like it to be for a point (guard). But, as he begins to play with better players, I expect he’ll distribute the ball more frequently. And I don’t know if there’s a more explosive player in the country today in the collegiate ranks.

“The NBA will allow him to showcase his talents even more so. He won’t have to drive through a zone and the pace of the game is quicker because of the 24-second clock.”

The talk of Iverson’s potential departure began to heat up Friday after a Virginia Beach radio station reported he would hold a news conference Saturday. The report attributed its information to Boo Williams, Iverson’s coach on his Amateur Athletic Union team. Saturday, Williams denied being the source of any information, saying that he was just relaying a rumor he had heard.

“I haven’t talked to Allen in four weeks,” Williams said before his current team played a tournament game in Hampton, Va.

He said he had received several media inquiries about the report and alleged news conference.

“A guy from ESPN called,” Williams said. “I said, if there were a press conference, I’d be calling you. I don’t know what (Iverson’s) going to do. Allen knows my personal feelings. I don’t believe in kids leaving early. All kids should stay in school.”

Williams said of this current round of talk: “This is speculation on top of speculation.”

One reason there is no final word from Iverson is that he has yet to have a full-fledged meeting with Thompson, sources said.

Thompson could not be reached to comment Saturday. He has said that Iverson will leave only if Thompson feels Iverson is prepared -- mentally more than physically.

Marbury’s declaration makes the decision a little trickier for Iverson. The order of selection of the two guards could make a difference of hundreds of thousands -- if not millions -- of dollars, thanks to the NBA rookie salary cap that assigns a spending limit based on draft position. Who will go first?

“That’s for each (general manager) to determine, based on the make-up of your team,” Nash said. “If you’re looking to inject scoring, then Iverson might be your choice. If you’ve got good scoring, then you might want somebody who’s more of a distributor (such as Marbury).

“There’s also a year’s difference in their development. A year ago Allen was not as appealing as he is today. A year from now, Stephon will be more appealing than he is today. I believe Iverson will go ahead of Stephon, but I wouldn’t make the call without studying the situation in great depth and getting to know the players as people.”