Monday, April 23, 2007
With only six days remaining to declare for the NBA Draft, there’s still no word on Brandon Rush’s decision, and don’t expect one anytime soon.
The sophomore guard has said he would leave for the draft if he thought he would be the 20th pick or better. Three draft-projection Web sites have him ranked as 20, 21 and 22.
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NBA scouts love Rush’s athleticism and size. He’s 6-foot-6 and made 43 percent of his three-pointers this season. However, at times he hesitated to take shots and lacked a consistent playmaking ability.
The rankings fluctuate as other young players decide what they will do. More players in the draft is bad news for Rush, who is looking for other strong NBA prospects to stay in school so his name moves up along the rankings.
He’ll have to make his decision by this Sunday. The NBA has given players until midnight to state their intentions.
Even if Rush declares for the draft, NBA rules allow him to withdraw within the next couple months after visiting and working out with teams interested in him. That’s what Rush did out of high school. He tested the professional waters and backed out when he realized he would not be a high selection. He then came to Kansas.
A player is only allowed to withdraw from the draft twice, so if Rush were to go down that route this year, he would be unable to in the future.
This week turns into a waiting game as Rush takes stock of the draft landscape. Scouts say there is a strong case for him to stay as well as turn pro.
His age is one factor that is repeatedly mentioned. He is only a sophomore but turns 22 before the 2007-08 NBA season starts. With short career spans, professional basketball players have a small window of time in which to make their money, which could fuel his desire to turn pro sooner.
As a guard this season, Rush was the only player to start all 38 games for the team. He was the key player in several games, notably the tournament victory against Southern Illinois.
During the tournament, and since the season ended, he has maintained that he has not made a decision about the draft. He reportedly met with coach Bill Self on Thursday before Self left for a weekend recruiting trip but that meeting was only to touch base and was not about any specific decision.
NBA scouts love Rush’s athleticism and size. He’s 6-foot-6 and made 43 percent of his three-pointers this season. However, at times he hesitated to take shots and lacked a consistent playmaking ability.
Rush’s teammates said they would like him to stay but would support him whatever decision he made. With the loss of Rush and sophomore forward Julian Wright, the Jayhawks would be set back for next season.
No matter which way Rush decides, it is unlikely he will make his decision known early this week.
Kansan senior sportswriter Michael Phillips can be contacted at mphillips@kansan.com.
— Edited by Katie Sullivan
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