SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Deshawn Gone?  Maybe Not; Kansas
Paper Says He'll Still Be A Jayhawk--(May 8, 2000)

Last Friday, it seemed all but certain that McDonald's All-American selection Deshawn Stevenson (6'-5" Sr. SG/SF) from Fresno Washington Union, was headed to the NBA.  He told the Fresno Bee that he'd made up his mind, that he hadn't qualified academically, and that in his mind, where he wanted to be was the NBA.  He reportedly was going to meet, or had already met with an agent, and there was a minor war brewing between his club coach, Darren Matsubara, and his mother, Genice Popps.  According to the media scuttlebutt, Mats had been advising Deshawn in a manner that was contrary to what Deshawn's mother wanted, which was for her son to attend the University of Kansas, where he'd signed a letter of intent.

But hold the phone. . . no sooner than Deshawn had told reporters last week that he'd mailed a letter to NBA commissioner David Stern's office, officially putting his name into the draft, comes yet another report from the Lawrence (Kansas) World Journal saying that all of this news about Stevenson heading to the NBA were all premature.  The paper went so far as to say that Stevenson had changed his mind, and was going to be attending Kansas.  Moreover, the report also said that Stevenson had changed his mind based on his SAT score, which reportedly bettered his prior attempts by more than 400 points.

We'll be the first to admit, we're confused.  If Deshawn has mailed his letter to the NBA, then he may not be able to turn back, because unlike athletes who are enrolled in college who are allowed a grace period (they can put their names into the draft but return to college as long as they don't sign with an agent by June 24), there's no such leniency for a high schooler. . . declare (officially) with the NBA, and at least under current NCAA rule, you forfeit your eligibility.  Sure you can petition to reclaim it, but it's not an automatic process. . . just ask Ellis Richardon. . .

In any event, the full story from the Lawrence World Journal can be found at this link.   We've excerpted the relevant portions below. But in the end, here's the big question:  Will he stay or will he go?  [Are we talking about Deshawn or Roy Williams???] Your guess is as good as ours. But if you ask Roy Williams, both of them will be in Lawrence next year. . .

Stevenson picks Kansas after all
Posted Monday, May 8, 2000

DeShawn Stevenson is now coming to Kansas, both Stevenson and his mother said on Sunday.

By Gary Bedore

Journal-World Assistant Sports Editor

The DeShawn Stevenson saga is not over. He's headed to Kansas, after all.

Stevenson, a 6-foot-5 Kansas University basketball signee from Washington High in Fresno, Calif., last Tuesday announced he would bypass a KU scholarship and apply for the NBA Draft. Stevenson canceled a press conference last Wednesday, but did release a statement to the Fresno Bee indicating he was NBA-bound.

On Thursday Stevenson told recruiting analyst Mike Sullivan he'd mailed a letter to commissioner David Stern, asking his name be placed in the draft. However ... 

On Sunday night, Stevenson said he was headed to KU. For good. "I passed the SAT test and I now know I'm coming to KU," Stevenson told the
Journal-World Sunday night. "I didn't really want to go to the NBA after all. I've passed the test and told coach Williams I'm going to KU now. He's excited for me."

There is one possible holdup. The family must call the SAT testing group today in New Jersey to make sure all is OK with the test. "I've heard DeShawn improved 400 points. The preliminary review said he's passed the test," Stevenson's mother, Genice Popps, said Sunday. "We'll know for sure today, but he'll be going to Kansas and it's a big relief to us all." 

Earlier, Williams on Saturday at a banquet in Georgia said nothing was finalized and Stevenson was not headed to the NBA. "I'm not so sure that (NBA) is the best decision for him," Williams said. "We are going to sit down and visit on Thursday this week and talk it over. But as of Friday, he is not going pro," Williams said while speaking at the Augusta (Ga.) State awards banquet.

At the time he did not know Stevenson would pass the test and be headed to KU. May 14 is the last day a high school senior or college underclassman can declare for the draft. The NBA will release its list of draft eligibles on May 21.

Williams -- he played golf over the weekend at famed Augusta National Golf Course -- told the Augusta Chronicle he was not in favor of paying athletes as a way of getting the players to put their NBA dreams on hold. "I don't think that you should pay athletes because they are getting a free education, but I do think that we could make the athletic scholarship a better scholarship than it is," Williams said. "Many of the top academic scholarships are better than the scholarships that I give my players." 

Williams told the Georgians he was happy at KU. "I have been offered a few jobs in the NBA, but I have never had any interest in it," the coach said. "For the last 12 years I have been at Kansas and have loved it. I have never had the dream of coaching at North Carolina (his alma mater). I love Kansas first and North Carolina second.

"Statistics are important but not as important as relationships. We haven't won a national championship, but if I can have another 12 years and still have the same types of relationships, I'll be happy, national championship or not."

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