Cincinnati Post: Boston May Be Wayne Turner's Destination

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                   C I N C I N N A T I   P O S T   S P O R T S


            Locals still trying to move up in draft
            By Rodney McKissic, Post staff reporter
            There are 38 early-entry candidates for next month's NBA draft, more 
            than enough underclassmen to affect the draft status of players like 
            James Posey.
            The former Xavier University forward has an unselfish streak and 
            owns a well-rounded game, which has been compared to that of Derrick 
            McKey or Scottie Pippen. But in the NBA, underclassmen generally get 
            first call, so when players such as Lamar Odom, Corey Maggette, Ron 
            Artest and Richard Hamilton are available, seniors like Posey slip 
            down a few notches.
            ''With all the underclassmen coming out now, Posey's rating will be 
            affected to some degree,'' said Dick Percudani, a Phoenix Suns 
            scout.
            But there's still time for players such as Posey, Wally Szczerbiak, 
            Lenny Brown, Scott Padgett, Heshimu Evans, Wayne Turner and 
            underclassman Jamal Magloire to improve their draft status.
            Teams will bring in prospects for individual workouts and interviews 
            before the last pre-draft camp in Chicago next month.
            ''I think what you have is a situation for many of these players 
            where Chicago will be very, very important,'' Percudani said. ''It 
            seems to me that a lot of these guys will end up playing in 
            Chicago.''
            Because Szczerbiak is a cinch to land in the lottery, there will be 
            no need for the former Miami University All-American to play in 
            Chicago. Bulls general manager Jerry Krause reportedly loves the 
            6-foot-8 small forward, but probably not enough to select him No. 1. 
            The consensus is that Chicago will select among Maryland's Steve 
            Francis, Rhode Island's Lamar Odom and Duke's Elton Brand and Corey 
            Maggette or trade down for multiple picks.
            Cleveland also would like Szczerbiak, but he may be gone by the 
            Cavaliers' No. 8 pick.
            He recently worked out in Toronto, which has picks No. 5 and No. 12, 
            and left a favorable impression. To get into the playoff hunt, the 
            Raptors feel they need an additional scorer to play alongside Vince 
            Carter.
            ''Szczerbiak will be considered pretty high,'' Percudani said. ''He 
            will be somewhere in the lottery area.''
            Posey could be picked anywhere from No. 15-20, according to draft 
            maven Chris Monter of Monter Draft News.
            Scouts have always been impressed with Brown's ability to score, but 
            they would like to see the former XU guard play point guard. Brown 
            played well at the Portsmouth Tournament after the Final Four, but 
            struggled in Phoenix. Monter said Brown could land in the late 
            second round with a strong showing in Chicago.
            Like Posey, Levett played well in Phoenix, but there are questions 
            about his size. Monter said Levett, the former University of 
            Cincinnati swingman, was measured at 6 feet 2 without shoes, which 
            is small for a shooting guard. Nevertheless, Levett may possess 
            enough athletic ability to pull it off and could land in the late 
            first round or early second with a good showing in Chicago.
            The University of Kentucky's Padgett worked his way into the late 
            first or early second round by displaying the game's lost art: 
            shooting.
            ''He is one of a few players in the draft who can put the ball in 
            the hole,'' Monter said.
            The same cannot be said for UK's Turner, who possesses everything 
            else scouts are looking for in a true point guard. Turner's 
            inability to consistently make his unpolished-looking jump shot 
            makes him a possible mid-second-round selection, Monter said.
            Boston could be his destination. The Celtics and coach Rick Pitino, 
            the former UK coach, are looking for someone to distribute the ball 
            to young stars Antoine Walker, Ron Mercer and Paul Pierce. Also, 
            Turner played his prep ball at Beaver Country Day School in Boston.
            Evans creates havoc defensively but looks uncomfortable playing 
            shooting guard, his likely position in the pros. But the 6-6 player 
            from UK is a good athlete and will probably go in the 
            mid-second-round.
            Magloire might return to school, which would boost not only UK, but 
            the junior center's pro future, as well. Magloire blocks shots and 
            rebounds well, but is so raw offensively that he didn't average 
            double figures in points in his college career. Scouts consider him 
            a suitable NBA backup who will be available in the second round.
            Publication date: 05-27-99 



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