SB the university daily kansan
sports
thursday,april 1,2004
SIMIEN: Weighing options important for NBA decision
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which takes place June 1-4, traditionally the make-or-break stop on the road to the NBA Draft.
Should Simien be able to dominate, he guaranshes himself a shot at a lottery pick. That means that should be one of the top 14 players selected in the draft, he guaraneshes himself roughly $8 million over the course of a three or four-year contract, not counting endorsements.
And should Sinien go to Chicago and flop, there would be no cause for shame. Last summer, St. Joseph's guard Jamee Nelson declared for the draft after his junior season but declined to sign with an agent. He went to the Chicago camp and got schooled. Nelson made the decision to return to the Hawks. He then was named the Naismith National Player of the Year and had the Hawks within two points of a Final
Four appearance last weekend.
Now, he's projected to be taken within the first 12 picks of the NBA Draft. Nelson has said how much being at the Draft Camp helped him.
Would Simien flop? Probably not. Would Simien be the camp's MVP? Probably not. Whether he sets himself up as a sure-fire fire pick or just learns what it will take to do it next summer, going to Draft Camp would be the best step for him to take this off season towards his professional goals.
Of course, there are tons of common objections to the suggestion that Simien should go pro.
The first regards Simien obtaining his degree. It's not like it would be impossible. Vince Carter and Shaquille O'Neal, two of the NBA's biggest draws, are among many who left college early for the NBA and were still able to graduate. Both summer
and online courses make finishing a degree easier these days.
And there is the significance of Simien's loyalty to the University of Kansas. Everyone knows the heart warming story of how Simien attended Roy Williams' camps since he was a boy and never dreamed of considering a school other than KU.
The biggest asset Simien has should he leave to go pro is a good head on his shoulders. Simien told the Kansas City Star earlier this month about the occasional partying of his first two years in Lawrence. But he also gave the story of how he was saved and devoted his life to the Lord this summer. He said he felt born anew, and had led the life of a model citizen ever since. Simien would be a positive addition in any NBA locker room — not the type of guy you have to worry about getting
into club fights, a la Drew Gooden.
And Simien's three years of college basketball are appealing to a veteran club looking to go towards a youth movement or a young team looking for a veteran type of rookie. It's an especially rare quality in a draft with six to eight high schoolers being projected to enter their names.
Wayne Simien is at a crossroads in a favorable, though stressful position. He has two worlds in the palm of his hand. One would allow him to etch his name in stone as a legend in one of college basketball's greatest programs. The other offers hedonic pleasure plus financial security for life.
As fun as life would be in Wayne Simien's shoes, just be glad this is not your decision to make.
Greene is a Vernon Hills, Ill., senior in journalism
SOFTBALL: Officials are unsure if rules allow them to halt game
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many runners on base in the first five innings. Nebraska squandered several chances they had to bring its runners home.
In the fourth inning, Nebraska sophomore outfielder KoKo Tacha reached base on a walk. A hit to right field was bobbled, but Tacha ignored her base coach and stopped at second. The next batter lined to straight-away center. Tacha, however was unable to come home.
Freshman hurler Kassie Humphreys recorded six strike outs in six innings of pitching. Kansas' best chance to score came in its half of the fourth inning. Sophomore infielder Ashley Goodrich made it to first on a walk as a pinch runner for sophomore pitcher Serena Set-
tlemier, brining senior catcher Mel Wallach to the plate.
Wallach hit a ground ball to the infield. Wallach and Nebraska junior Anne Steffan collided at first base, leaving both players on the ground. As Steffan was on the ground, Goodrich advanced all the way to third. The next at-bat, Goodrich was caught in a squeeze on a failed bunt by the Jayhawks.
Nebraska scored three runs, one earned, in the top half of the sixth. Humphreys walked one, and an error at third base allowed this to occur.
The not-quite-final score of the game was 3-0 after six innings. The Jayhawks will play a double-header against Creighton tomorrow. The first game will start at 2 p.m.
Edited by Robert Perkins
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