[SIZE=2]Randolph to seek NBA’s opinion
Junior forward Shavlik Randolph has declared his eligibility for the NBA Draft, but his father says he plans to return to Duke[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Randolph will retain his eligibility if he withdraws by June 21. [/SIZE]
By LUCIANA CHAVEZ, Staff Writer
DURHAM – A college basketball career of still unmet expectations took a surprising turn Friday when Duke announced that junior forward Shavlik Randolph had declared his eligibility for the NBA Draft.
But Randolph, who was only seventh on the team in playing time last season, will not hire an agent and intends to return for his senior season, his father, Kenny, said Friday.
“We don’t even consider this a story,” Kenny Randolph said. "He is utilizing his one-time exemption to explore the draft. He’s not trying to get out of Duke.
“It’s nothing more than Shavlik has always wanted to play in the NBA. He’s doing this to see how good he has to get.”
The NCAA allows college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors and high school seniors to test the draft once. As long as Randolph does not hire an agent, he can return to Duke with his eligibility intact if he withdraws his name from the draft by June 21. The draft will be held June 28.
Today is the deadline for that group to enter their names in the draft. Duke was helping Randolph file the necessary paperwork.
Randolph, who needs to complete five more classes to graduate, also doesn’t intend to leave Duke early to play in Europe this winter or transfer to another school, his father said.
Shavlik Randolph was out of town and could not be reached for comment.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s only response was made in a statement released by the athletics department Friday:
“I support Shavlik 100 percent.”
When asked if Krzyzewski understood that Randolph planned to return for his senior season, Duke spokesman Jon Jackson said, “The record is what we put out. There is nothing further to comment on.”
Kenny Randolph said his son had been thinking about declaring for the draft for a couple months. The decision followed three college seasons during which his development has been hampered by injuries and illness.
“Contrary to popular belief, Shavlik is extremely happy to be at Duke,” Kenny Randolph said. "My wife and I and the whole family feel that way. … This has nothing to do with [how] Shav’s career at Duke has gone. Like I said, he has a one-time exemption, and he feels, ‘Why not use it.’ "
At Duke’s spring banquet April 21, the 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward received an award for the most charging fouls caused (22) last season, while fellow juniors J.J. Redick, Shelden Williams and Sean Dockery were named captains for 2005-06.
Randolph’s Duke career has been stalled by physical setbacks, including major hip surgery after his freshman year and a bout with mononucleosis that forced him to miss four games last season. On the court, he has struggled when he wasn’t quick enough to guard forwards on the perimeter or strong enough to bang inside.
With 36 starts in 92 career games, Randolph has averaged 6.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots. He averaged 30 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots as a senior at Broughton High in Raleigh as one of the nation’s top prospects.
Kenny Randolph said his son’s decision was not based on any NBA information that he would be selected at a certain point in the draft. “He’s not someone who is putting his name in expecting to be drafted,” Kenny Randolph said. “His situation is a little different.”
He had the same option – to enter his name in the draft and possibly withdraw it – as an 18-year-old Broughton senior. Kenny Randolph said the family never really considered that option because his son wasn’t mentally or physically ready.
Now 21, Randolph has gained 25 pounds since arriving at Duke.
“Instead of working as a counselor at the Nike and Michael Jordan basketball camps, he’ll be spending his summer working out for teams,” Kenny Randolph said. “What better way to gauge your progress than actually having NBA general managers telling you. He’s going to hear some positives, and he’ll hear a lot of negatives.”
A lot of prospects will be evaluated June 7-10 at the NBA’s predraft camp in Chicago, but it remains to be seen if Randolph will be invited. The question is whether he’ll get the feedback he wants if scouts and GMs are convinced he’ll return to Duke anyway.
“European players test the waters all the time, often to improve their financial situation over there,” said one NBA scouting director, who asked not to be identified because Randolph isn’t a senior. “This happens a lot. You take these players seriously but only so seriously.”
The scout said Randolph needs to build up his body and stay healthy to be a viable pick in 2006.
“A lot of players are testing the water,” the scout said, “and a lot of them leave you perplexed by even testing. This guy is one of them. He needs to just go back and perhaps improve his standing by being a focal point. He was highly touted coming out of high school, but he hasn’t shown it.”
Randolph joined a number of ACC non-seniors who have declared for the draft. Four players on North Carolina’s national title team – Sean May, Raymond Felton, Marvin Williams and Rashad McCants – are turning pro and will not return to UNC. Wake Forest sophomore Chris Paul, a point guard, has hired an agent as well, and Wake teammate Eric Williams, a 6-9 center, has declared for the draft but will not hire an agent.
Maryland coach Gary Williams confirmed Friday that point guard John Gilchrist has hired an agent.