Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • Page C05

Zone: 5 PAGE: C5 Typesetter: GUSS50BQueue: 68 Date: 01:44 Plate: CMYK CMYK THEHARTFORDCOURANT WEDNESDAY, MARCH30, 2005 C5 Leaving Before Used Up Their Eligibility Sophomore Charlie Villanueva became the eighth UConn player to leave school early for the NBA Draft. Courant Staff Writer Mike Anthony looks at previous Huskies who left early for the NBA Draft and how they fared: PlayerYearClassSelectedAs a rookie DONYELL MARSHALL 1994Jr.No.4 by MinnesotaTraded halfway through season, averaged 12.6 points for Minn. and Golden State. Now: Coming off bench for Toronto, still a productive player. Averaging 11.8 points and 6.6 rebounds.

Tied NBA record with 12 three-pointers March 13. RAY ALLEN 1996Jr. No.5 by Minnesota (draft rights traded to Milwaukee)Started 81 games, averaging 13.4 points and 4.0 rebounds. Now Five-time All-Star still one of best shooting guards in NBA. Averaging 23.9 points for the Sonics, ninth best in league.

39.7 percent three-point shooter for career. RICHARD HAMILTON 1999Jr.No.7 by WashingtonStarted 12 of 71 games, averaging 9.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists. Now Considered one of the best mid-range shooters. Averaging 19.4 points and 4.5 assists this season for Pistons, with whom he won a title last year. KHALID EL-AMIN 2000Jr.No.34 by ChicagoAveraged 6.3 points and 2.3 assists in 18.7 minutes for Bulls.

Now: Cut by Bulls toward end of rookie year. Currently playing in Turkish pro league, where he could be MVP for second consecutive year. CARON BUTLER 2002So.No.10 by MiamiConsidered a steal averaged 15.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in 78 starts for Miami. Now: Numbers fell off in second year but was rejuvenated after trade to L.A. Averaging 14.3 points and 5.7 points this season with Lakers.

BEN GORDON 2004Jr.No.3 by ChicagoAveraging 15.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Now: Has been up and down, especially early. Still contender for rookie of the year. EMEKA OKAFOR 2004Jr.No.2 by CharlotteAveraging 14.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. Now: Has been the stable defensive and rebounding force Charlotte counted on with an offensive game developing faster than most expected.

Leading candidate for rookie of the year. was hit by a truck in Brooklyn while waiting for one of three buses she takes to work as a custodian for the New York Police 110th Precinct in Queens. At this point, Dora is doing well but fully recovered from her severely injured right arm and light internal injuries. She has told Charlie and the rest of her familythat she has every intention of going back to work when she fully heals. But Villanueva want her to go back.

50. He wants her to enjoy life. So, in that respect, you argue with his logic. Villanueva wants to go to the NBA this year so that he can take care of his mom. Hey, cool.

really cool, actually. (Unfortunately, the Academic Progress Rate take these things into account.) Villanueva loves his mother more than words can describe. And if you ever met her, understand. She is a wonderful, sweet woman. Whether Dora Mejia goes back to work soon will not make a big difference financially.

The family is not destitute, but be silly rich a year later if Villanueva stayed at UConn and picked up where he left off in the final 10 games of this season (18.2 points, 9.7 rebounds). With another year at UConn, he could start next season as a lottery pick and work his way up. Of the previous UConn underclassmen who entered early, only El-Amin was not a lottery pick. There are 14 NBA teams in the lottery. Villanueva is projected to be about the 20th player taken in the draft this year.

But what if he slips to the second round and does not get a guaranteed contract? What would mind-set be? Would he bring the intensity and work ethic needed to stick with a team? These just happen to be two of the areas in which Villanueva has struggled to be consistent in his two years at UConn. Throw in the fact his defense is suspect at times. These are all detriments that could be wiped away with another year at UConn. be the featured guy, probably the frontrunner for Big East player of the year and possibly a preseason All- America pick in what will be an exciting year for a conference expanding to 16 teams. Throw in a little more time to get stronger and, wow, what a year it could be for Villanueva.

It could be. But it be. outta here. me, I thought about all of Villanueva said. I talked to Coach last week, we talked about it, too.

And like I said before, if I could do the college thing I would do it forever, but an opportunity came where I turn it down. I feel 100 percent confi- dent in my decision. I really pay too much attention to the criticism. I know what I need to do. I need to work hard and be in that gym.

I have to take more of a serious approach because this is agame, but also a business. I have to give it my Calhoun said there is no doubt in his mind that Villanueva will be a better pro than he was a college player because there many players with guard-like skills at 6 feet 11 in the NBA. But, Calhoun said more than a couple of times that Villanueva was going to have to work. And that work is going to be work like Villanueva has never seen before. Keep in mind, too, that he considered jumping to the NBA after prep school two years ago.

But his workouts great, which led him to UConn, where hewon a national championship as a freshman. Anyway, you have to like one of the first moves he made, retaining Billy Ceisler. Ceisler also represents Ben Gordon. Gordon was a lottery pick in estimation, but the workouts he endured under brother Brad before he began working out for teams individually was intense. Really intense.

And Gordon responded to the challenge and it paid off big time. To this day, he says his individual workouts are what led to him being the Chicago pick at No.3 overall. his skills, as long as he works as hard as he possibly can, he can make as significant a leap as Ben said Ceisler, who attended the press conference. Villanueva credited former UConn assistant coach Clyde Vaughan with helping him progress. And there much doubt be calling on the former big-man coach for support on this one.

really believe going to be a better pro than people Vaughan said Tuesday. long as in tiptop shape, going to be really good because so no arguing that Villanueva has the potential to be a good pro. But going to have to work as hard as he ever has. He could have used another year at UConn. Leaving Too Soon? CONTINUED FROM PAGE C1 NEW YORK Carlos Powell had 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead South Carolina to a 75-67 victory over Maryland in the NIT semifinals Tuesday night.

Josh Gonner scored 11 of his 12 in the first half, when South Carolina turned an early five-point deficit into a 14-point lead. South Carolina (19-13) is in the NIT championship game for the second time in four seasons and will face St. for the title on Thursday night. Travis Garrison, Chris McCray and Mike Jones each scored 15 points for Maryland, which had another of its long- running, positive streaks snapped. The Terrapins (19-13) were looking for their ninth straight 20-win season, but fell a game short.

The Terps tried to make another of their signature come- backs in the second half, after trailing by as many as 18 points. But careless ball-handling, hard passes that smacked off hands and sailed out of bounds, poor rebounding and missed layups made a rally impossible. St. 70, Memphis 58: Pat Carroll scored 13 of his 24 points in the second half to lead St. (24-11) to the final.

Carroll, the Atlantic 10 co- player of the year, hit 6 of 9 three- point attempts including 3 of 4 in the second half, when the Hawks pulled away behind 56.3 percent shooting. Dwayne Jones had 13 points and 14 rebounds eight offensive St. 21-5 since Jan. 1. Rodney Carney scored 21 points, 17 in the second half, and freshman guard Darius Washington added 14 for Memphis (22-16).

Memphis used a 12-5 run during the first 5:30 of the second half to make it 37-35. But the Hawks responded with a 10-2 spurt to push their lead back to 10. South Carolina, St. Reach Final Associated Press NIT Andrew Bogut, Dee Brown of Illinois, Sean May of North Carolina, J.J. Redick and Wayne Simien of Kansas are finalists for the John R.

Wooden Award as player of the year. The award will be presented April 9 from the Los Angeles Athletic Club. More than 1,000 national sports writers and college basketball experts cast their votes, which were due Monday. Brown and May will play in the NCAA Final Four this weekend in St. Louis.

Voters chose a 10-member Wooden All-American team, with the top five vote-getters being named Wooden Award finalists. The other Wooden All-Americans are: Francisco Garcia of Louisville, Chris Paul of Wake Forest, Salim Stoudamire of Arizona, Hakim Warrick of Syracuse and Deron Williams of Illinois. Garcia and Williams also will play in this Final Four. Bogut, a 7-foot sophomore, announced Monday that he will enter the NBA draft in April. UConn coach Jim Calhoun will receive the Legends of Coaching Award during the ceremony.

Bennett Gets Extension St. coach Randy Bennett received a six-year contract extension after leading the Gaels to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1997. The deal keeps Bennett under contract through the 2010-11 season. He had three years left on his first deal. Bennett, who took over in 2001, made about $130,000 this season, one of the lowest salaries among West Coast Conference coaches.

The new deal is a salary within our Bennett said, noting it also helps his entire staff financially. St. lost to Southern Illinois 65-56 in the NCAA first round, the fourth NCAA Tournament berth ever. Bennett took over in 2001 following a 2-27 season, and the program has improved every season from nine wins to 15 to 19, and then was 25-9 this season to tie a school record for wins. Cal State Fullerton coach Bob Burton signed a contract extension, keeping him with the Titans through the 2009-10 season.

Burton led Fullerton to a 21-11 record this season, and the Titans won two games in the NIT, their first postseason appearance since 1998. A university source told the Associated Press that Eastern Michigan has hired Michigan assistant Charles Ramsey to be its head coach. A press conference is scheduled for today, but the school said for what. Ramsey is an Eastern Michigan graduate and former assistant coach. He replaces Jim Boone, whose contract was not renewed earlier this month after going 48-96 over five seasons.

Warrick signed with BDA Sports Management. Wooden Award Finalists Named Calhoun Getting Coaching Award Combined Wire Services NOTEBOOK COLLEGE BASKETBALL MANSFIELD Suspended UConn guard Antonio Kellogg was arrested Sunday night and charged with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana. Kellogg was released on a $1,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court April 13. According to police, Kellogg was among a small group standing near a parked car in a wooded area behind a Cheney Drive apartment complex. Kellogg allegedly dropped a bag of marijuana on the ground in an effort to conceal it from an investigating state trooper, who report- edly detected the smell of UConn coach Jim Calhoun had said there was a small Kellogg would return to the program, but this likely ends that possibility.

Calhoun talked about Kellogg after Charlie announcement Tuesday afternoon. status is the Calhoun said. suspended Calhoun said he would not make a final determination until after the semester. Kellogg was suspended March 14 because of an accumulation of off-court behavior. One report said Kellogg had failed three UConn-administered drug tests.

Calhoun said that report was false, although other sources said marijuana was one of many factors in the decision. Moore Stays Put UConn assistant coach Tom Moore has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Stony Brook vacancy. Moore, in his 11th season at UConn, was considered a top candidate for that job. conversations with Stony Brook officials and much discussion with my wife, Eileen, Coach Calhoun and Jeff Hathaway, I felt it was best to withdraw from Moore said. withdrawal means he will probably remain in Storrs for a 12th season.

excited about the opportunity to work with our recruiting Moore said. The Huskies have already signed Andrew Bynum, Jeff Adrien and Marcus Johnson and got an oral commitment Tuesday from Trinity Catholic-Stamford guard Craig Austrie. Kellogg In Trouble Again Marijuana Arrest Likely Ends Chance Of Return By MATT EAGAN COURANT STAFF WRITER UCONN NOTEBOOK KELLOGG Craig Austrie, a 6-foot-3 guard from Trinity Catholic in Stamford, made an oral commitment to UConn Tuesday night. The commitment should close recruiting for next season. Austrie joins center Andrew Bynum and forwards Marcus Johnson and Jeff Adrien in a well- regarded recruiting class.

The Huskies were not expecting to be recruiting this spring, but the suspension of Antonio Kellogg underscored their need for depth in the backcourt. At the same time, Austrie reopened his recruiting after UMass coach Steve Lappas was dismissed. Austrie also had an offer from Providence, but the Huskies had several advantages. a great opportunity for me and I pass it Austrie told the Stamford Advocate. you think of elite programs, you think of UConn, Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky.

For me to play at UConn is an incredible honor. I still believe During his freshman and sophomore seasons at Trinity Catholic, Austrie had become familiar with UConn assistant coach Tom Moore. He is also believed to have a solid relationship with director of basketball operations Patrick Sellers. When Sellers was an assistant at UMass, he helped recruit Austrie. Austrie was the Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year and will be the only scholarship player on the UConn roster from the state.

Austrie averaged 22.5 points and 5.6 assists at Trinity Catholic, which was 103-6 in four years. He finished with 1,647 career points. Austrie Decides To Attend UConn By MATT EAGAN COURANT STAFF WRITER out exhausting his eligibility. But only the second to depart after his sophomore season. The first was Caron Butler.

said, me a key reason why you want to go the fact that you want to play in the UConn coachJim Calhoun said. said, mom. been in that accident. talking about going back to work and I want herto go back to very difficult to have an answer for that one because certainly good Calhoun said his research has indicated Villanueva will be selected in the first round, which would mean a guaranteed contract. are enough general managers who have talked to me about him in the first Calhoun said.

I have no question that be a first- round Villanueva was highly recruited out of Blair Academy in New Jersey and explored jumping straight to the NBA from high school. He abandoned that plan after working out for several NBA teams and eventually selected UConn over Kansas and Illinois. first thing I knew about Charlie is that he chose this program because he could have gone Calhoun said. knew one thing about coming to UConn: It going to always be easy and it always be Villanueva missed the first six games of his freshman year while the NCAA investigated his summer travel expenses. The lost time slowed his progress.

But by the end of the season, Villanueva was a valuable reserve behind Emeka Okafor and Josh Boone. This was made clear in the Final Four, when Villanueva had eight points, six rebounds and two blocks in 14 minutes of the national semifinal against Duke. More was expected from him this season. Villanueva was mired in a slump for most of November and December but was a different player upon returning from Christmas break. He had 12 double-doubles (a team high) in his last 23 games and displayed a deft passing touch from the post that many feel will be more valuable in the NBA.

Mixed in were some games that will give NBA scouts pause. Villanueva had two points in 27 minutes against North Carolina and was overmatched at the defensive end against Sean May. He was a non-factor during the first half against Syracuse in the Big East tournament semifinals but then helped the Huskies make the game close, finishing with 18 points and 11 rebounds. If nothing else, decision represents the changing landscape of college basketball. In the recent drafting patterns, a premium is placed on youth and experience is sometimes considered a liability.

a happy day and a difficult day and a day in Calhoun said. Villanueva, who has signed with Billy Ceisler Ben agent said he would sit down with Calhoun and team academic officials to figure out a plan for the second semester. Still, with the number of NBA workouts Villanueva will be required to attend this spring in order to secure his draft position, he is likely to count against the school on the Academic Progress Rate. Calhoun acknowledged this reality and said he would not pressure Villanueva to make changes to his schedule for Villanueva, who never anticipated spending a day in college, thanked a long list of people on his way out and paused for sentiment. a hard day, a sad day and a happy one as Villanueva said.

fans have been great and supportive. Everywhere I go, people are always stopping and talking and I just love the whole college environment, but time to move on to the next stage in my ASSOCIATED PRESS THERE WERE TIMES when Charlie Villanueva seemed up against it, especially against Jawad Williams and North Carolina in February. Villanueva Feels The Time is Now CONTINUED FROM PAGE C1.