Oden Declaring, Conley Jr. maybe...

[stevew]

Possibly just his dad having mouth diarrhea, but I would assume that it's true(at least for Greg). Conley's probably a top 10 pick, no reason for him to stay in school either.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Ohio State star Greg Oden will enter the NBA draft, his father told The Indianapolis Star in a story on its Web site Friday night.

The 7-foot center is widely considered a possible No. 1 draft pick, and Greg Oden Sr. said he was comfortable with his son's decision.

"He's the kind of kid that, even though he'll have a lot of money, he needs to do more than just basketball," Greg Oden Sr. said. "They had an exciting season, but why take the chance on him getting hurt?"

Oden and Buckeyes point guard Mike Conley Jr. led Lawrence North of Indianapolis to three straight Indiana high school basketball titles. As freshmen, they led Ohio State to a No. 1 ranking and the NCAA championship game.

Oden's mother, Zoe, told the Star, "Greg told me he wasn't ready to talk about it just yet."

The elder Oden said Conley and fellow Ohio State freshman Daequan Cook also were expected to put their names in the draft.

The players have until midnight on April 29 to declare whether they intend to make themselves available for the NBA draft.

Mike Conley Sr., the former director of elite athlete services for USA Track and Field, has been certified as an NBA agent and is opening a representation firm. The elder Oden said Conley Sr. would represent his son.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[Balldog]

I'll be surprised if Conley leaves, he has said since day one and since the tournament game that he will be back for at least one more year. Who knows though. Personally, Cook needs to come back but I doubt he will. I'm sure he is unhappy with playing time but he couldn't make a shot the last two months of the season.

[Groundhog]

As I said in the other thread, Conley is nuts if he doesn't leave this year because he is far and away the best PG of this class and it's not even close. Anything could happen between now and 2008's draft of course, but guys like OJ Mayo, Derrick Rose, Darren Collison, Ty Lawson et al could all crowd the PG picture a little.

[JPhillips]

Conley will be a lottery pick, so if he goes it's hard to fault him. Cook, though, may not make the first round. He really needs to stay agent free so he can reevaluate after some tryouts. I don't think he offers much of anything currently for an NBA team.

[miami_fan]

Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green both have declared but won't hire an agent. I don't expect either to leave.

[hoopsguy]

From what I have heard of the OSU team Cook is very close - going back to high school AAU days - with Oden and Conley. So I'm wondering if there is a "me too" thing with him declaring along with them. I would expect him to be the leading scorer on the Buckeyes next year if he stays, assuming that one of the incoming freshmen doesn't jump into that role.

[Leonidas]

After watching the tournament I have doubts that Cook is even has NBA potential, let alone is draft worthy this season. If he comes out he'd better not get an agent as I don't see him getting drafted. Conley really needs to work on his outside shot and free throws as well as needs to get stronger. Yes, he's a fabulous talent, but I think he really needs another season to get ready. Plus he comes from a good, comfortable family life. It's not like he needs the money. And this whole deal with him being close to Oden so he would go to the NBA with his buddy is overdone I think. It's not like they'll be on the same team.

Had everyone stayed with the incoming class they've got I think they would have been the team to beat. If just Oden leaves with the class coming in I still think they are the team to beat. Would be a shame for them all to go now before mission accomplished. I also wonder how this would kill OSU basketball on the new academic measures that kill a program for having guys leave early. Losing 60% of one class after year one would be brutal. I have to think they'd lose a scholarship down the road.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green both have declared but won't hire an agent. I don't expect either to leave.

Hibbert is a 7-footer with athleticism and a strong skill set. There's no way he isn't a lottery pick, even in this draft. And if he's a lottery pick, there's no way he comes back.

Most pundits I have seen have Green rated highly too, likely in the Top 20 at least. I would doubt he would come back in that case either. Unless he felt by staying he could be a #1 overall next year or something like that.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Leonidas

I also wonder how this would kill OSU basketball on the new academic measures that kill a program for having guys leave early. Losing 60% of one class after year one would be brutal. I have to think they'd lose a scholarship down the road.

From what I understand, a school is only penalized if a player leaves early and doesn't finish the classes they were registered in for the current semester. Durant said that is the reason he is going to finish out his classes this semester at UT, so the team doesn't take the academic hit.

[rowech]

Oden should definitely leave. Conley should probably leave. Cook is an idiot if he leaves. I understand they've been friends for a long time and want to take the next step together but only 2 of the 3 are ready.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green both have declared but won't hire an agent. I don't expect either to leave.

Wanna put some money on that?

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Subby

Wanna put some money on that?

No but if both perfom in the postseason camps as they did in the final four game against Ohio State I wouldn't want either to leave. Would it be that much of a stretch for either one of them to return to school?

[rowech]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

No but if both perfom in the postseason camps as they did in the final four game against Ohio State I wouldn't want either to leave. Would it be that much of a stretch for either one of them to return to school?

Hibbert's gone. Green, maybe.

[Leonidas]

Mike Conley, Sr. is now saying Oden's father doesn't know what he's talking about. Oden is meeting this week with Conely, Sr., his mother, and Thad Matta to discuss this before making a decision. And he says his son is still also thinking about it. No mention of Cook.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Leonidas

Mike Conley, Sr. is now saying Oden's father doesn't know what he's talking about. Oden is meeting this week with Conely, Sr., his mother, and Thad Matta to discuss this before making a decision. And he says his son is still also thinking about it. No mention of Cook.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

I kind of thought the whole thing sounded sketchy. AFAIK, Oden's parent's either are not married, or don't live together. So while I still think he will declare, it's maybe still in the air. I'd love to see Conley and Oden both go back to school, but I know that both would leave a ton of money on the table. And right now Conley runs the risk of being drafted behind 4-5 other PG's if he stays in school one more year, and then declares.