McCoy (and Olowokandi)

["Ivan K. Choi" <ichoi@alumni.EECS.Berkeley.EDU>]

An excerpt from the San Francisco Chronicle's NBA wrap-up:
(Sorry for the formatting).


BLUNT OPTIMISM: He was suspended by his
                 school for three months at the start of this season,
                 reportedly for failing at least one drug test. Last
                 week, with a month to go in the season, he quit the
                 team, citing the pressure from the media among
                 other things, but amid reports of another failed drug
                 test. 

                 However, Jelani McCoy is 6- foot-9, has a pro
                 body and a knack for blocking shots. So the junior
                 from UCLA is likely to be an upper- lottery pick if,
                 as expected, he declares for the draft. One
                 Western Conference general manager recently
                 rattled off a list of five potential top picks off the
                 top of his head, and when McCoy's name was
                 mentioned, he said, ``Yeah, if he comes out, you
                 can put him up there, too.'' 

                 ``Somebody high may take a stab at him because
                 he's a highly regarded prospect,'' Pete Newell, who
                 has tutored McCoy in his annual big-man's camp,
                 told the Los Angeles Daily News. ``Talent-wise,
                 he's right there, and centers are hard to come by.'' 

                 Especially this year: The best of the lot as of now,
                 say the scouts, is Pacific's Michael Olowokandi,
                 whose experience with the game is limited.