It’s That Time, so Ready or Not, Here They Come

It’s spring, when a young college basketball player’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love, NBA style.

This is a problem for all concerned, robbing the NCAA of its stars, the NBA of the free promotion it used to get from the college game and the players of what remains of their childhoods, if it doesn’t imperil their careers.

Nevertheless, it’s getting worse. Spring has become the season when you read things like this, from the Memphis Commercial-Appeal:

“Memphis Coach John Calipari said he talked with U of M junior forward Kelly Wise and believes that Wise will eventually decide to return . . . rather than apply for early entry into the NBA draft.”

Not that this will disappoint NBA executives. Few, if any, have ever heard of Kelly Wise.

He’s a 6-foot-10, 213-pound forward. Since the NBA has point guards who are heavier, it would be uh, Wise, for Kelly to stay in school and try to put on a lot of weight.

Then there are the locals.

Jamal Sampson, a 6-11 senior at Santa Ana Mater Dei High, said he might declare “if I was guaranteed middle of the first round.” He decided to attend California, where they’ll presumably time his college career with a stopwatch.

This illustrates an argument made by Indiana Pacer Coach Isiah Thomas, a former Players Assn. president, who says the NBA’s rookie scale aggravates the problem.

The scale, instituted in 1995, capped costs, a priority after Glenn Robinson got $70 million fresh out of Purdue. However, to get the union to agree, Commissioner David Stern gave all 29 No. 1 picks guaranteed three-year deals.

This season’s top pick, the New Jersey Nets’ Kenyon Martin, gets $10.5 million. The last player on the first round, the Lakers’ Mark Madsen, gets $2.3 million.

Once, young players asked if they’d be in the top 10. Now, 29 are guaranteed at least $2 million and more teens turn pro than ever before.

UCLA waits to hear from Jason Kapono and Dan Gadzuric. Both are expected to leave--but should they?

Forget the phony education angle. Both were always apprentice pros.

How about their wasted youth? Isn’t college supposed to be the best time of their lives? I remember what a joke I thought that was when I was in college. Of course, like a lot of people I know-- admittedly, many are sportswriters--I’ve spent my adult life trying to extend my adolescence. Now young basketball players sell off the real thing.

It has become that kind of world. If they played baseball, they could turn pro out of high school without comment. If they were gymnasts, they would leave home at age 8 to pursue their calling.

Then there’s basketball . . .

Kapono, maturing early with a rare feel for the game, was great in high school and good at UCLA. The NBA looks for athleticism, which he lacks, and shooting ability, which he has. He’ll probably be a role player. The question is, will it be a big role, a small role or a minuscule role?

He was No. 29 in my everyone-eligible pre-tournament mock draft, which was pretty high, since it includes a lot of players who won’t be in the real draft.

Some scouts are intrigued by Kapono and some aren’t. One general manager, who likes him, nevertheless had him ranked below the Clippers’ Eric Piatkowski.

Gadzuric is big, athletic and works, but isn’t very skilled. Worse, he attended Pete Newell’s big-man’s camp and still has awful footwork, which Newell is famous for correcting.

One way or another, they’ll make a good living, even if some have to go off-continent.

Me, I’m from a generation that watched a TV show called “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.” There was a beatnik character named Maynard G. Krebs, who used to exclaim “Work!” in terror, every time someone mentioned the word.

Real life, it comes along soon enough.

NCAA TOURNAMENT UP/DOWNGRADES

Helped themselves:

Loren Woods, Arizona (No. 20 in my mock)--People were off him in a big way, but he’s 7-1, made 83% of his free throws, more than 90% in the tournament and finally showed some interest. But can someone so talented, who wasn’t even All-Pacific 10, play in a league with more games and bigger bodies?

Shane Battier, Duke (10)--If intangibles mean anything, he’s your guy. Scouts loved his hard-nosed attitude and defense but didn’t see him as a big scorer. Nevertheless, he sure scored a lot, didn’t he?

Marvin O’Connor, St. Joseph’s (unranked)--Pardon me, but who are you? A 6-4 junior guard who came out of nowhere, he scored 21, 26 and 37 in the tournament. If he’s really that good, he’s lottery-bound.

Richard Jefferson, Arizona (unranked)--Major athlete who’s an OK shooter. If he improves, he’s big time.

Carlos Boozer, Duke (25)--No one was too excited about him, but he looked good on the post, scoring on Woods with either hand.

Lonnie Baxter, Maryland (unranked)--A 6-8 wide body who comes to play.

Casey Cavalry, Gonzaga (unranked)--Gets rediscovered in the tournament every year.

Hurt themselves:

Jason Richardson, Michigan State (3)--Major athlete who may not be as far along as people thought. For a 40% three-point shooter, he didn’t look good when he was defended by Jefferson.

Chris Marcus, Western Kentucky (6)--A 7-1, 285-pound work in progress who still needs work.

FACES AND FIGURES

More prospects who helped themselves--at the McDonald’s Classic for top high school players: Eddie Curry (8), the so-called “Baby Shaq” who showed he’s now in shape and can run; Dajuan Wagner (unranked)--A 6-2, 200-pound guard from Camden, N.J., he’s the son of former Laker Milt Wagner. The buzz among general managers is he’s coming out--and could go in the top 10. Said one: “He’s like Steve Francis, but he’s a better shooter.” . . .

Leprechaun Blues (cont.): Paul Pierce, who’s eligible for an extension this summer, says he won’t re-sign with the Boston Celtics until he’s comfortable with their direction. He’ll be a free agent in the Vince Carter Summer of 2003, so if the Celtics don’t move up by then, they may be back to square one. . . . Celtic Coach Jim O’Brien moaned when Pierce was passed over for player of the week, as if it was a big-deal award. Pierce won the next week after posting his fourth 40-point game in his last seven--then scored 23-12-17-21 as the Celtics lost to the Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic and Lakers and fell into ninth in the East.

Glen Rice after the New York Knicks’ victory over his old Laker teammates last week: “This is great for me. I take a great deal of satisfaction in it. One thing they [Lakers] have never said is how much I’ve been missed [in] that program. If I get a chance to put it back in their face each time, I’ll do it.” . . . On one hand, Rice tried hard to be classy about his Laker experience, a disaster-from-day-one that was the low point of his career. On the other hand, this season is worse. He doesn’t even start and has career-low averages of 12.9 points and 29 minutes.

Former Phenom Blues: The departure of teammate and sponsor Jayson Williams has left struggling Keith Van Horn without friends in New Jersey. With Coach Byron Scott and Stephon Marbury reportedly down on him, Van Horn, asked by Steve Adamek of the Bergen Record if he wants to stay, said: “I couldn’t give you a yes, I couldn’t give you a no.” Wrote Adamek: “In other words, ‘Get me out of here.’ ” . . . The Toronto Raptors’ beloved grouch, Charles Oakley, has charged widespread drug usage by NBA players, punched the Clippers’ Jeff McInnis, slapped the Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrone Hill and last week threw a ball at Hill, finally earning a one-game suspension. Said Oakley, returning for a game in Cleveland: “I don’t think that hurt the team. I think the league hurt the team by putting them in Canada.” Translation: He was upset they couldn’t clear customs in Cleveland and had to walk through the airport in Toronto, carrying their stuff like ordinary people. Wrote the Toronto Sun’s Mike Ulmer: “These days, interviewing Charles Oakley is like talking to Sybil at happy hour.”

Rigor mortis: The stiffening Golden State Warriors had an especially embarrassing moment when Vonteego Cummings lost the ball after getting hit from behind by teammate Adonal Foyle. The Milwaukee Bucks’ Sam Cassell picked it up and went in for a layup, without a single Warrior pursuing. Cummings was upset--that the Oakland crowd booed. “That’s what happens when you’re not going to the playoffs and losing,” he said. “I heard that. I won’t forget that.”