Underclassmen Declare For 2008 NBA Draft

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

si.com

Caracter still turning pro


LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Rick Pitino tried for two years to tell talented but enigmatic forward Derrick Caracter that he probably needed more seasoning at Louisville before testing the professional ranks.
Caracter, however, thought otherwise and announced he was heading to the NBA after Louisville's season ended with a loss to North Carolina in the NCAA tournament.
Since then Caracter, who averaged 8.3 points and 4.5 rebounds for the Cardinals last season, has softened his stance. Pitino hasn't and hopes NBA scouts and general managers can succeed at getting through to Caracter that his game might not be NBA-ready.
"I think he's been looking in the mirror and conning himself for a long, long time," Pitino said. "Now he's got to go and find out what the real world is like."

Continued....

[Kickdown02]

Tar Heels - ESPN - Hansbrough returning to UNC; Ellington, Lawson enter draft - NBA

[LitlBuck]

Smart move by Hansbrough plus I think he just loves the college game. I think his draft stock will go up with one more year of college. I think Lawson should stay for another year and improve his jump shot. Ellington is probably ready for the next level but needs to be more consistent with his jump shut. It will be interesting to see where he is projected.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I wish we could get some of our guys to stay four years...

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by OSUBasketballJunkie

I wish we could get some of our guys to stay four years...

Undersized PF are a position of need in the NBA...

But I agree, it would be nice, but it isn't like he is staying just because, but he is not a first round draft pick at this point...Lawson would probably be highest and at this point he is looking at picks 17-30 IMO...

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by crazybuckfan40

NOt yet..Collison is still wavering and don't think Shipp is going to leave...His stock is way down...2nd rounder for sure...

On ESPN's bottom line last night it said that Collison has decided to return to UCLA next year.

[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Early entrants leave teams playing the waiting game - Men's College Basketball

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

Early entrants leave teams playing the waiting game

Don't sweat it, college hoops fans. Even if every one of the early entrants who filed their paperwork for the NBA draft by Sunday's deadline stays in the draft, next season's potential first team All-Americans are safe.

Forget about the June 16 deadline to withdraw from the NBA draft. The announcements that the following five players are all returning mean that the All-American first team can be penciled in now: forward Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina), the consensus winner of the national player of the year, forward Blake Griffin (Oklahoma), and guards Darren Collison (UCLA), James Harden (Arizona State) and Stephen Curry (Davidson) .

A potential second team isn't too shabby, either; Louisville's Earl Clark, Pitt's Sam Young, Tennessee's Tyler Smith, Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet and Boston College's Tyrese Rice also declined to test the draft.

Contd...

Ohio State
Testing: Kosta Koufos
Result: Koufos could easily opt to play in Greece for large sums of money if he doesn't get the vibe that he's going high enough in the NBA draft. Watch how this one develops, because it won't be as easy as the other choices. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes have a chance to be a Big Ten contender with Koufos back since he would join yet another stellar incoming 7-footer in B.J. Mullens. The backcourt will still be solid, albeit inexperienced, with newcomers William Buford, Walter Offutt and Anthony Crater joining David Lighty, Evan Turner and Jon Diebler. Not having senior point guard Jamar Butler will be hard to overcome. But coach Thad Matta hasn't had trouble adjusting to personnel changes during his time in Columbus.