Bryant Will Jump To Nba

Kobe Bryant, like Kevin Garnett last year, has decided to skip college and jump right to the NBA.

Bryant, a 6-foot-6 forward recognized as the national prep player of the year by several organizations, including USA Today and Parade magazine, announced Monday he will become the sixth high school player to enter the NBA draft.

“I know that I’ll have to work extra hard and I know that it’s a big step,” he said at a news conference in the gym where he led Lower Merion High School to the Pennsylvania state class AAAA championship. “I can do it.”

Bryant, 17, is expected to be among the top 10 prospects in the June draft.

Other NBA players who did not play in college were Moses Malone, Shawn Kemp, Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby.

Bryant is the all-time leading scorer in southeastern Pennsylvania with 2,883 career points.

In selecting the pros, Bryant decided against playing for La Salle, where his father, former Philadelphia 76er Joe Bryant, is an assistant.

Camby leaves UMass for NBA

Massachusetts junior Marcus Camby, the college basketball player of the year, announced he will make himself eligible for the NBA draft.

Camby, a 6-11 center, is expected to be one of the top three picks - perhaps even No. 1 overall, depending on which of the other NCAA underclassmen join him in the draft pool. He is expected to play forward in the pros.

Camby could make $9.1 million over three years under the NBA’s rookie salary cap if he is the top pick.

Camby led the Minutemen to their first trip to the NCAA Final Four this season, averaging 20.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.9 blocked shots. UMass, ranked No. 1 most of the season, lost to eventual champion Kentucky 81-74 in the semifinals. Camby had 25 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots.

Jordan feeling no pain

In agony with back spasms 15 hours earlier, Michael Jordan walked into Chicago Bulls headquarters with a bounce in his step - and with confidence that he’ll be ready for the next game.

“I was surprised at how well he was doing. He was quite a bit looser than yesterday,” Bulls trainer Chip Schaefer said. “Now I’d be surprised if he’s not close to normal” today. Jordan suffered the spasms late in the second quarter of Sunday’s playoff victory over the Miami Heat, bringing the sellout crowd to an uncomfortable silence.

Though the NBA’s all-time scoring average leader returned for the third quarter - to relieved applause from the fans - he was noticeably stiff. And Jordan left the court for the trainer’s room well before the Bulls wrapped up the 106-75 victory that gave them a 2-0 series lead.

Jordan received treatment but didn’t practice, and he left without talking to the media.

Kidd’s opinion sought by Perot Jr.

The Ross Perot Jr. group wants to get Jason Kidd’s advice before making any personnel decisions once they officially purchase the Dallas Mavericks.

The All-star guard was in town to talk to the Perot Jr. group, a sign the sale of the Mavericks could be announced later this week.

Kidd wants the new owners of the NBA franchise to keep Dick Motta as coach. Current owner Donald Carter said Kidd’s “input is very important” to the sale of the club.

“I think we need coach Motta,” Kidd said after the Mavericks completed their regular season. “I hope he’s the coach next year.”

Carter said he is hopeful the sale can be finalized this week. Completion of the $125 million sale has been considered a formality since April 15, when the Perot group reached an agreement in principle to purchase the team.

Dudley honored for citizenship

Portland Trail Blazers center Chris Dudley has won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, given annually by the Professional Basketball Writers Association for community service and charitable work.

“It’s an honor,” Dudley said. “To some extent, professional athletes should think of themselves as role models, but nobody’s perfect, and I’m certainly not.”

Dudley, who was diagnosed with diabetes during his sophomore year of high school, donated $150,000 to the Gates Creek Camp near Forest Grove, a camp for children with diabetes. The money paid for a bridge across a creek.

Dudley also contributed $300,000 to the “I Have a Dream” Foundation, providing college scholarships to fourth-graders at Vernon Elementary in northeast Portland.