BYU player made a good call
Dick Harmon
By June, that could be whittled down to just one returning starter, forward Jonathan Tavernari.
Or not.
That is the status of Cougar basketball this week after MWC co-MVP Lee Cummard announced his declaration for the NBA draft, testing the waters with teammate Trent Plaisted. Both have not hired agents, leaving the door open for them to return for their senior seasons and a run at a third league title with Rose.
Of course, this will start the debate whether Plaisted or Cummard will even get a sniff in the draft. Seemingly, every day for the past month, there have been underclassmen announcing they will put their name in for the draft, many of them freshmen.
Added to this glut of bodies is a foreign invasion of draft bait sure to impact the first round. Rose predicts even more names will surface today and Sunday, the deadline for declaring for this year's draft.
The committee that invites players to the Orlando NBA pre-draft camp will meet next week and wade through college player resumes; taking care of seniors is a priority. Invitations will be sent by late May, a significant watermark for Cummard and Plaisted in learning where they stand.
I've always maintained declaring for the NBA draft isn't an absolute, as many fans debate their worthiness and ability, usually tearing down their game. It might not be the lure of the NBA that will keep Plaisted and Cummard from coming back to BYU for their senior seasons. It could be the attraction to get paid to play overseas, while risk of injury of doing so for free at BYU looms over their heads.
So, in the debate over whether Plaisted/Cummard are NBA material, the more relevant question should be: Can they make money as professional basketball players?
You have to look no further than Travis Hansen, who has made stops in Spain and Russia and has earned millions since being drafted by Atlanta in 2003. Of course, he was an NBA player first, but Hansen's big contracts were not in the NBA. Same for Houston Rockets center Luis Scola, an Argentine national who played with Hansen in Spain but is now finally drawing a big NBA check.
Keena Young, the 2007 MWC player of the year from BYU, made a boatload of cash playing in Korea; former Cougar stars Mark Bigelow, Trent Whiting, Terrell Lyday and Mekeli Wesley have all experienced escalating pro contract money playing outside the NBA.
Recent comments
Does anyone have any new comment for this story? The same old same...
RR | April 28, 2008 at 9:10 p.m.
I hope both get drafted and leave the Y for greener pastures. Now...
Dixie Dan | April 28, 2008 at 7:38 p.m.
It's obvious the vast majority of you have NO idea what you&#...
Obvious | April 28, 2008 at 5:22 p.m.
