Gordon to test NBA draft waters
Junior starting point guard says Stansbury encouraged him to go pro
C.J. LeMaster
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: News
Mississippi State point guard Jamont Gordon announced Tuesday his intent to declare for the NBA draft after three seasons with Mississippi State.
The 6-foot-4 junior, who helped secure the Bulldogs' second consecutive SEC West championship and an NCAA tournament berth while averaging 17.2 points per game, told the Associated Press he wanted to try after being encouraged by head coach Rick Stansbury.
"Right after this season he pulled me into his office and he told me he thought I should give it a try because he thought I had a good year, a good solid career," Gordon told the AP Tuesday. "He thought I'd go in the first round and everything. He was all positive about it."
Both Gordon and Stansbury could not be reached for comment, but assistant basketball coach Marcus Grant said other members of the coaching staff share Stansbury's enthusiasm.
"Why would you want to hold a kid back that has an opportunity to live out a lifelong dream?" Grant said. "Being the type of player he is and the season he had, as well as the success the team had, it made sense for him to test the waters and see what he could get."
Gordon told Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal sports writer Gregg Ellis he wouldn't hire an agent, but added that he is confident he'd get drafted.
NCAA regulations state that Gordon could lose his Mississippi State eligibility if he hires an agent.
Mark Broussard, director of communication for the NBA, said early entry candidates would be confirmed after Sunday's deadline.
"We'll probably put something out by the end of next week, possibly Thursday, that lists the early entry candidates for the 2008 NBA Draft," Broussard said.
According to a mock draft on Web site DraftExpress, Gordon would go in the second round as the 16th pick.
Shane Power, former Bulldog forward and Comcast basketball analyst, said Gordon has the potential to make waves in the draft, but a first-round pick isn't likely given the makeup of this year's lottery.
The 6-foot-4 junior, who helped secure the Bulldogs' second consecutive SEC West championship and an NCAA tournament berth while averaging 17.2 points per game, told the Associated Press he wanted to try after being encouraged by head coach Rick Stansbury.
"Right after this season he pulled me into his office and he told me he thought I should give it a try because he thought I had a good year, a good solid career," Gordon told the AP Tuesday. "He thought I'd go in the first round and everything. He was all positive about it."
Both Gordon and Stansbury could not be reached for comment, but assistant basketball coach Marcus Grant said other members of the coaching staff share Stansbury's enthusiasm.
"Why would you want to hold a kid back that has an opportunity to live out a lifelong dream?" Grant said. "Being the type of player he is and the season he had, as well as the success the team had, it made sense for him to test the waters and see what he could get."
Gordon told Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal sports writer Gregg Ellis he wouldn't hire an agent, but added that he is confident he'd get drafted.
NCAA regulations state that Gordon could lose his Mississippi State eligibility if he hires an agent.
Mark Broussard, director of communication for the NBA, said early entry candidates would be confirmed after Sunday's deadline.
"We'll probably put something out by the end of next week, possibly Thursday, that lists the early entry candidates for the 2008 NBA Draft," Broussard said.
According to a mock draft on Web site DraftExpress, Gordon would go in the second round as the 16th pick.
Shane Power, former Bulldog forward and Comcast basketball analyst, said Gordon has the potential to make waves in the draft, but a first-round pick isn't likely given the makeup of this year's lottery.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Sisyphus
Brent
posted 4/25/08 @ 3:45 PM CST
I hope Stansbury isn't encouraging our players to leave for the NBA.
Sure, I want us to win as much as the next guy, but we have bigger reasons to keep these kids around. (Continued…)
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