SPORTS
Harris enters NBA draft
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by Joe Ziemer
Wednesday, May 5, 2004
Junior point guard Devin Harris will take his game to the NBA, at least for the moment. The Wisconsin star announced Wednesday he will enter his name into the upcoming draft, but will not sign with an agent, leaving open the possibility of returning to school.
“I feel this is necessary to get a true feeling of where I stand in this draft,” Harris said at an 11 a.m. press conference. “It still leaves me the option of coming back to Wisconsin.”
After struggling with the choice ever since the Badgers’ season came to an end in the NCAA tournament, Harris said he finally came to the decision early this morning.
Harris’ fate may depend on his lottery status. If he were projected to be taken in the first 13 picks of the June 24 draft, Harris would be inclined to leave.
He has until June 17 to pull his name out of the draft. Harris will wait until after finals to determine whether or not he will attend the pre-draft camp in Chicago.
“I’m not completely sure on everything yet, but this gives me more time to consider it, it gives me another month or so,” Harris said. “It gives me a chance to be more informed as to projections and draft position.”
The Big Ten Player of the Year, he averaged 19.5 points per game in 2003-04, leading the Badgers to a Big Ten Tournament Championship and a perfect home record. Were he to return for his senior campaign, Harris would be considered a candidate for the national player of the year award, while Wisconsin would have Final Four aspirations.
“It’s very hard, I love this place,” Harris said of UW. “It’s pulling on me, it still is, but I’m halfway—50-50. This still gives me an option to come back and still gives me the option to go. It gives me a little more time.”
