Kentucky’s Mohammed Enters Draft Amid Skepticism

Nazr Mohammed, whose shot blocking and rebounding helped lead Kentucky to the NCAA championship, said Monday he would forgo a senior season and make himself available for the NBA draft.

Mohammed, a 6-foot-10 center, said he would not hire an agent in order to protect his college eligibility in case he changes his mind before the June draft. He has until seven days before the draft to withdraw his name and return for a final year.

But Marty Blake, the NBA’s director of scouting, said Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith contacted the league about Mohammed’s potential in the draft. Blake said he told Smith: “The guy’s not ready to play.”

Another season of college ball would help Mohammed in virtually every aspect--educationally, emotionally, physically, artistically and financially, Blake said at the time.

“I’m in a great situation where I can explore my options,” Mohammed said at a news conference, seated beside Smith.

Mohammed led Kentucky in rebounding with 7.2 per game and blocked 75 shots. He made 60% of his field-goal attempts, mostly from short range, and developed a deft hook shot.

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In the end, the punches center Alonzo Mourning threw hurt only the Miami Heat, and he admitted as much.

Mourning said his suspension for fighting was to blame for the Heat’s defeat Sunday in the deciding fifth game of their bitter series against the New York Knicks.

“The actions I took shortened a pretty promising season for us,” Mourning said. “If I had played in Game 5, it would have been a different outcome without a doubt. I really regret what happened. I really apologize to the fans of Miami.”

“We failed this year,” he said. “Despite the accolades of winning the Atlantic Division and 55 games, we still failed. It’s going to be hard to digest the situation this whole summer.”

Teammates expressed support for Mourning, and Coach Pat Riley again defended his center, refusing to use the suspension as an excuse. The Knicks were short-handed too, with Patrick Ewing injured the entire series and Larry Johnson and Chris Mills sitting out Game 5 because of their roles in the fight.

“I stand by Zo,” Riley said. “He’s done a lot for this franchise.”

“I made a big mistake,” Mourning said. “It’s easy for people to talk about it and say, ‘That was dumb.’ But it was a playoff series. Tensions were high, the adrenaline was up and there was a lot of animosity between the teams. You’re out there fighting to win, literally.”

Mourning, who has always struggled with his temper, made a successful effort during the second half of the season to show more poise--until Game 4.

“He gathered himself tremendously after the All-Star break,” Riley said. “Then, in a flash point, he gave it all back. He’s crushed by it, and he has to make amends for it.”

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Cleveland Cavalier forward Danny Ferry will have arthriscopic surgery Tursday to remove damaged cartilage from both knees, the team said.