Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 26, 1996)
Page 6 • The Battalion • Wednesday, June 26, 1996 The 1996 NBA Draft Drafting underclassmen killing collegiate and professional hoops A the 19 9 6 NBA Draft com mences today in New Jer sey, a glaring problem plaguing the world of bas ketball will stick out once again amidst all the festivi ties and hoopla. If you’ve kept up with the sport of late, chances are you’ve seen this pestilence rear its ugly head already. I’m talking about college un derclassmen leaving the NCAA and their schools early for the much greener pastures of the NBA. This practice is rampant and out of control and something must be done to stop it. To put this trend in per spective, only six underclass men declared themselves eligi ble for the draft in 1992. Con versely, this year’s draft fea tures 33 underclassmen and three aspiring high school graduates who just decided to skip college all together. This disturbing phenomenon is killing the quality of play at both the collegiate and profes sional levels. On the college scene, basket ball has become nothing more than a rest stop for talented players on the road to the NBA. Longevity and fulfilling the terms of a full, four-year athletic scholarship are becoming a thing of the past as the NCAA contin ues to lose its showcase players prematurely to the pros. As a result, fans who had grown attached to the game by following these players and their team’s progress are alienated. Consequently, the NCAA and its schools are hurt by a drop in television ratings and attendance at games. But more importantly, indi vidual teams suffer when their top players leave for the NBA two years early. It takes a lot of time on the court in practice and in games for teams to develop a chemistry and unified goal. If a star player leaves his team early for the pros ip the middle of this process, he’s hurting his teammates, his school and the fans. Basically gutted, any champi onship potential his team had is lost, and the program must com pletely start over. A perfect example is last year’s North Carolina basket ball season. A potential championship year for the Tar Heels in 1995- 1996 turned out average when star players Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace left for the NBA following their sopho more year. Prior to last season, only eight freshmen had ever started the first game of a season for the Heels. In 1996, two freshmen were in the opening game line up, as Dean Smith managed to put together a 20-win season. But the Heels’ shot at great ness was lost with the depar tures of Stackhouse and Wallace. It is evident that the quality of play suffers when collegiate basketball’s premier players bid an early farewell, and the NCAA is hurt as a whole. Things are no different on the professional front, as the level of play suffers just as much when underclassmen enter the league Underdeveloped and immature in comparison to their estab lished NBA peers, it takes these wet-behind-the-ears rookies three or four extra years to reach their potential. Last year, John Wallace showed that staying the full four years in college can be beneficial The senior center led Syracuse to the national title game and at the same time improved his stock in this year’s draft. Following his lead next season are Kansas guard Jacques Vaughn and Wake Forest center Tim Duncan. But there aren’t enough players following in their foot steps. Bas ketball is hurting at both the colle giate and pro levels because of this underclassmen trend, and some thing must be done to curb it. If a player agrees to a four-year athletic scholarship, then the NCAA must force him to honor it. Special exemptions could be made in hardship cases where a player can come out early to help support his family in crisis. But the NBA could take some measures as well. Just like a business in the real world, the NBA is a profes sional organization. And like any other company, the league should hire only those who have the most experience and are qualified for the job. College underclassmen and high school kids are not. Confusion abounds as NBA teams weigh their draft options Vol. io: EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Allen Iverson said the No. 1 pick is a toss-up, Stephen Mar- bury disagreed and Isaiah Thomas considered neither player as he wondered what to do with the No. 2 pick. Much remained unsettled Tuesday on the eve of the NBA draft, even among the teams pick ing near the very top. On Wednes day, trades and surprises were ex pected all day. A record 36 underclassmen and high school players have declared themselves eligible, and general managers and scouts will choose from a mixed bag of prospects who are certainly the youngest — and possibly the least polished — the league has ever seen. “It’s one of the most puzzling, confusing and exhilarating drafts because nobody has a clue,” said Marty Blake, director of the league’s scouting service. The Philadelphia 76ers are ex pected to take a point guard with the first pick, and the choice is be tween Iverson of Georgetown and Marbury of Georgia Tech. ‘To me, it’s still 50-50,” Iverson said Tuesday. “I think theyll take Allen,” Mar bury disagreed. Both Iverson and Marbury have listed Philadelphia as their first choice, and both have refused to work out for other teams. Iverson is leaving school after two years and Marbury is leaving after one. “Allen is the best point guard in college basketball — I’m second,” Marbury said. “If both of us were sophomores, it might be different.” The second pick belongs to the Toronto Raptors, who want the best big man and don’t need a point guard. Thomas, the general manag er of the Raptors, was trying to de cide between Marcus Camby of Massachusetts and Shareef Abdur- Rahim of California. “A week ago, this draft was pret ty dull for us. Now that Shareef is in, it’s become pretty interesting,” Thomas said Tuesday. “There are more cards to play, I’ve had some pretty good trade offers and there are a lot of different scenarios.” Abdur-Rahim worked out for the Raptors on Mon day. Camby, who heard Thomas commit to him be fore Abdur-Rahim changed his mind for a second time and re-entered the draft, has been left wondering whether he could drop to third or lower. “When a guy says on television he’s taking me at No. 2, you can take his word for it,” Camby said. “But I wouldn’t hold it against him if he went back on his word. It’s only been a one- month relationship.” Vancouver might end up trading the third pick if Iverson and Abdur- Rahim are taken first and second. The Grizzlies want Marbury, not Camby, but Marbury doesn’t want to play in Vancouver. That could entice the Grizzlies to trade down in the top 10 and pick up a quality player and a good draft pick at the same time. Following Philadelphia, Toronto and Vancouver, the draft order is Milwaukee, Minnesota, Boston, the Los Angeles Clippers, New Jersey, Dallas and Indiana. The picture gets murkier in the middle and late first round. The draft is loaded with forwards, short on shooting guards and younger than ever. Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O’Neal and Taj McDavid are the three high schoolers available. The for eign-born contingent features 6- foot-10 Vitaly Potapenko of Ukraine, whose performance at the predraft camp in Chicago has ele vated him into the top 15; 6-11 Efthimis Retzias of Greece; 7-1 Zy- drunas Ilgauskas of Lithuania; and 6-9 Predrag Stojakovic, an 18-year- old naturalized Greek citizen from Yugoslavia. “We’re talking about Kobe Bryant and Predrag Stojakovic, let’s not even talk about them in the same breath,” Blake said. “Predrag is much better and shouldn’t even be on the same court with Bryant.” Antoine Walker (Kentucky), Ray Allen (Connecticut), Erick Dampier (Mississippi State), John Wallace (Syracuse), Kerry Kittles (Villanova) and Steve Nash (Santa Clara) will be draft ed high in the first round. Lorenzen Wright (Memphis), Samaki Walker (Louisville), Todd Fuller (North Carolina State) and Moochie Norris (West Florida) will be gone by No. 20. The No. 11 pick belongs to Gold en State followed by Cleveland, Charlotte, Sacramento, Phoenix, Charlotte, Portland and New York (Nos. 19 and 20). The final nine first-round choic es go to Cleveland, New York, Van couver, Denver, the Los Angeles Lakers, Utah, Detroit, Orlando, Seattle and Chicago. c tc WA Suprer Militar give uj a decis 157-ye added sex dis The Citade militar all-mal gram f< “Wc VMI-qi fered a obligat equal j er Gins Noti citizei “Surely accomr A se female! stereot not pre added. Just dissem shuts < served wealth distinc half.” “I d< include struct! tended in Nev 3 TRY THESE TASTE-TEMPTING ■ml \ \ \ \ Tx. \ ’ $ ‘ x '-A x : ' x, y vx/A BUY ONE ENTREE, CET SECOND ENTREE FREE California Smoothies and supplements, (Second enfree must be of equal or lesser value Coupon value up to $7 ) Valid anytime except Fri & Sat after 6pm Not valid with special lunch menu or other entree specials. Dine in only. One coupon per table. 10°/o off sux»x»lemexa. > t/25 Jfa/tcdty VALUE MEXICAN RKSTAl RANT © 607 E University Drive • 846-5333 Expires 7-10-96 MET-Rx - New low price $34.95 for a box of twenty. No additional discounts allowed (heated next to Fox ft Hound) (<I09) 846-6202 SOS £. University coupon expires 7/10/96 iSUBWAV* TMNPERflffllDSlJBS FREE SUB GOOD AT ALL 9 LOCATIONS • 330 George Bush Drive • Parkway Square • Woodstone Center • 3601 E. 29th St. • Northgate Store - University Drive • Post Oak Mall • 2500 Texas Ave., Bryan • 100 N. Main (Downtown Bryan) • Texas at Deacon (Now Open) FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FRESH. FAST, & HEALTHY FREE Receive Free one 22 oz. soft drink and one bag of chips with purchase of ANY of our foot long sandwiches at regular price. Limit one coupon per customer, per visit. Not good with SUB CLUB CARD or with any other discounts. Expires 12/31/96. Albertson's Center Next to Kirk's Cleaners & The Cork 607 E. University 691-2276 Randall's Center Between Marco's & GTE 2205 Longmire 693-6494 T^nperMlidSijbs Everyone Can Drink Co£fee Together FRESH, FAST. & HEALTHY Buy any large sub and get a small sub FREE! Bryan/College Station locations only. NOT VALID WITH OTHER OFFERS. PRESENT COUPON WITH ORDER FOR DISCOUNT. EXPIRES: July 3, 1996 _ Any Speciality Drink 51 or Brewed Coffee Exh.7/S/9* ^ Off *9*«S79a mrX* 4001 a9tJl St (In Winn Dixie Shopping Center) - i s W&M ^ h 111111 illl lliMliS I -1 iiliiiiilll 11111111 illlli 'v cW"* $/l 99 -O 1 Large 1 -Topping Pizza F* SF-Edv'VL OINTLY! Original Crust. Order as many you want. Additional toppings $1.00 ea. per pizza. Not valid in combination with other discount offers or coupons. With this coupon One coupon per order, please. Good at participating Mr. Gatti’s. Crawfish Poboy & Soda for $5.50 good on Mon. - Fri. 11:00 - 4:00 Sun. 11:00 - 2:30 268-8888 Dine in only Offer good only at 107 S. College Conveniently located at the comer of| University & College In front of TJ Laser Tag next to Hurricane Harry’s (409)268-5333 Not valid with any other offer. No substitutions. One coupon per customer. Exp. 7/24/96 317 College Ave. B College Station, TX 77840 Sundown specials SERVED DAILY 4 RM. TIL 6:30 P.M. AGED ANGUS SIRLOIN A 9oz. heavy aged Angus sirloin. BUTTERMILK CHICKEN FRIED STEAK Fresh round steak, dipped in a buttermilk batter and lightly fried, served with your choice of ranch fries or uptown mashed potatoes. GRILLED CHICKEN A seasoned boneless chicken breast cooked to PERFECTION and topped with our grilled pan onions. BABY BACK RIBS A full rack of the most tender and tasty BBQ ribs in Texas. FRESH SALMON Fresh salmon marinated in bourbon, brown sugar and spices. Grilled in lemon sauce. T-Bone catches 'em himself. 7.95 All items above include hot bread and house salad with your choice of baked potato, uptown mashed potatoes or ranch steak fries. 809 E. UNIVERSITY (Next to the Hilton) 846-6823 IS I- I By Bram The Bat Work fire is al organize Redp charge c for a cu acres of: to be cle oization sites, no made. Jason and a sei Nor, si always some tim “High three rei pretty cl said. “W fight off DHAF "One di '°r attac •Pc Pers: f State fed wou fy and tat strel , Saudi “red coi ftates ai )r those con of a 1 ■■explos] fAnaer ifeds. Chun : ^cret( Jeeigb fosses ■cattere ttered t lar y b J fea W h fien p ar Rck ‘Pesday Saudi • forces iCe ne W 'Pc tear *arch t ; b W SeH J v en to !t Pllatio