green declares for draft

socalogo.gif (8739 bytes)
SoCalHoops NBA Draft News

NBA Stuff Getting Really Weird. . .
UCI's Jerry Green Now In Draft--(May 17, 2001)

ESPN is now reporting that UC Irvine's leading scorer this past season, junior Jerry Green has declared for the NBA draft. He reportedly put his name in by Sunday's deadline, but hasn't yet hired an agent. He apparently only told the school today about his entry.

Green, who averaged 19 points a game last season as a junior, has remained enrolled in school and is eligible to play as a senior. According to ESPN, Green told the Anteaters coaching staff that he "wanted to see where he stood against his peers." He isn't projected to be in either of the first two rounds of the draft. So of course, one has to wonder: What's the point of declaring for a draft when there's little chance this season of getting drafted? No one said logic is required. . . We would fully expect Green to return to UCI, and perhaps next year to be a serious contender for a draft slot. . .but not this year.

Also, according to ESPN, the official NBA list of players who have declared for the draft is expected to be released by midday tomorrow, Friday. Underclassmen have until June 20 to withdraw thier name from consideration before the June 27 NBA draft. High school players like Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry, Kwame Brown, and Tony Key are not permitted under current NCAA regulations to drop out of the draft and regain college eligibility. Once they declare they are immediately made ineligible. The NCAA is currently considering legislation which would change this rule, but it won't be enacted at the earliest until next year.