----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2001 5:03 AM
Subject: "According to league
sources,..."
C's eye young and
restless
by Mark Cofman
Monday, May 14, 2001
Armed with two
first-round picks and most likely a third, the Celtics kept a watchful eye on
last night's deadline for college underclassmen and high school seniors to
declare for the NBA draft. As the midnight deadline approached, a
record-breaking six high school hopefuls and 31 college underclassmen had
submitted their official paperwork to the league office, making them eligible
for the June 27 draft.
According to league sources, highly regarded prep
star DeJuan Wagner of Camden, N.J., was also set to waive a college career at
Memphis and enter the draft, though no official word had been given.
Regardless, this year's group of high school and early college entries, in
what is certain to continue a decade-long trend, will make up the majority of
the lottery field and could ultimately dominate selections throughout the
first round.
Celtics director of player personnel Leo Papile said he could
not comment on specifics of early entry and high school candidates until the
NBA office distributes an official list to teams later this week. But sources
around the league were in agreement that this draft has turned into one of the
deepest in recent history, a development that bodes well for the
Celtics.
The Celtics' pick, assuming they don't win one of the first three
slots in the lottery, is 10th overall. They also have the right to use
Denver's first-round pick, No. 11, unless the Nuggets secure one of the first
three slots. In addition, the Celtics own Phoenix' first-round pick (No.
21).
``We have this rare opportunity to have multiple first-round picks,
and that's one certain way to add to your talent quotient,'' said Papile.
``Obviously, we have to sort out (the list) and explore all of our options
before we decide what direction we're going to go in. But we feel good about
our chances of improving this team through the draft.''
Added Celtics
general manager Chris Wallace, who was in Paris for the European
Championships, ``The next step is the lottery (on Sunday) and then
(individual) workouts. At that point you're only five weeks away (from the
draft).''
The high school entries include centers Eddy Curry (Holland,
Ill.), Kwame Brown (Brunswick, Ga.), DeSagano Diop (Senegal, Africa, by way of
Oak Hill Academy in Virginia) and Tyson Chandler (Compton, Calif.), forward
Ousmane Cisse (Mali, West Africa, by way of St. Jude High in Montgomery, Ala.)
and guard Tony Key (Compton, Calif.). Early forecasters are already predicting
that Curry, Brown, Diop and Chandler could be among the top 5-8
picks.
Worcester native and Villanova star Michael Bradley, a power forward
who is expected to be a lottery pick, is among the college underclassmen
entered in the draft. Also in the field is Seton Hall forward Eddie Griffin,
who was considered the second-best high schooler to Darius Miles a year ago
before he opted for college. Notre Dame forward Troy Murphy, like Griffin and
Bradley a Big East star with high lottery expectations, and Michigan State
forward Jason Richardson, are also among those who have declared for the
draft.
Copyright by the Boston Herald
-JB-
Unchain My
Heart!