DeShawn Stevenson did not hold a press conference on Wednesday to declare for the NBA Draft.
The Kansas University basketball signee from Fresno, Calif., says he saw no need for a media session after informing selected reporters on Tuesday he was bypassing college for a career in the NBA.
“I told everybody yesterday. Nothing’s changed. I’m still going,” Stevenson said, indicating he’s made plans to fill out the required paperwork to enter the 2000 NBA Draft.
“I’ll sign them soon,” Stevenson said.
Stevenson said reaction was calm at his high school Fresno’s Washington High Wednesday.
“Everybody’s acting the same way toward me as before,” he said.
He noted he’d yet to speak to KU coach Roy Williams, but informed KU assistant Neil Dougherty of his decision to enter the 2000 Draft.
Williams has been at an NCAA rules meeting in California and was unavailable for comment.
An unofficial poll of a handful of NBA scouts Wednesday indicated the strong possibility Stevenson will be picked in the first round. None of the scouts saw Stevenson as a top 15 pick.
“I’ve seen the kid play. He’s a great athlete, but he doesn’t have NBA skills right now, to be honest,” said one scout, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “He doesn’t shoot it that well; he doesn’t handle it that well. He needs some time in college.
“I could see him go in the first round on potential. I could see him slip to the second. That means no guaranteed money.”
One person willing to be quoted, recruiting analyst Mike Sullivan, was appalled Stevenson has declared for the draft.
“If I am DeShawn Stevenson, I’d make sure to speak to a lot of NBA scouts and general managers and discuss what are the odds of me being drafted among the first 15 picks,” Sullivan of Insider’s Report said. “I find it hard to believe any NBA team would take a chance on a 6-foot-4 guy yes after he’s measured he’ll be closer to 6-4 who has got to play 2-guard on the NBA level and does not have the consistency from the perimeter to play the two.
“Role players need to polish their game on the college level and DeShawn is one of them. He is a great athlete, but there are a lot of great athletes in the NBA.”
Sullivan said all he can figure is one NBA team has assured coaches close to Stevenson he’ll be drafted by that team if he comes out early.
“He might be looking at a three- or four-year career. He is not ready,” Sullivan said.
Stevenson might not even be ready to be a major-impact college player, Sullivan said.
“Steve Smith at Oak Hill Academy said he saw him five or six times and he cannot handle the ball yet,” Sullivan said.
Once Stevenson signs papers declaring for the draft, he cannot change his mind and attend Kansas.
Rules are harsher for high school players than college players who declare for the draft and can change their minds and return provided they have not signed with an agent.
According to NCAA rules, college basketball players are allowed to enter the NBA Draft and … “return to college basketball, provided the student-athlete is not drafted by any team and the student-athlete declares his intention to resume intercollegiate participation within 30 days after the draft.”
Also, a college basketball player may declare for the draft and pull out up to a day before the draft, provided he does not sign with an agent.
Why aren’t high schoolers afforded the opportunity to change their minds? Simple reason.
When the NCAA wrote the rule in the early 1990s, it was unheard of for high school players to bolt directly to the pros. Thus the NCAA didn’t think to include high schoolers in the rule.
New proposals to change rules regarding amateurism may be passed as early as next fall.
Proposals include letting high school players like Stevenson declare for the draft, yet attend college if they don’t approve of their draft position.
An NCAA official said Wednesday the new amateurism proposals would not be voted on in time to affect Stevenson.
Stevenson’s mother, Genice Popps, targeted her wrath at Darren Matsubara, her son’s longtime summer tournament coach, whom she says has been feeding her son NBA information and orchestrating the decision without her knowledge.
“He comes here Monday and tries to tell me stuff,” Popps told the Fresno Bee. “He asked if I wanted to meet with agent David Falk and another guy. I told him I didn’t want to hear it and I didn’t want to meet with anybody.”
“DeShawn’s been programmed by ‘Mats,”‘ Popps’ husband Terry told the Bee.
Popps, by the way, thinks her son has passed the SAT and could attend KU if he wanted to. “I don’t know I will call about it (score) because it seems DeShawn has made up his mind,” Popps said.
