Kentucky’s Mercer To Declare Eligibility For Nba Draft

University of Kentucky forward Ron Mercer is expected to declare himself eligible for this year’s National Basketball Association draft, where he’ll likely be among the first five players selected.

A press conference is scheduled for Wednesday, when Mercer, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound sophomore, will reveal his decision. He’s purchased insurance to cover himself if he’s injured before the NBA draft.

Mercer leads the Southeastern Conference in scoring, averaging 18.0 points, with 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.7 steals in 29 games.

The University of Arkansas is denying an NCAA allegation that there was a lack of institutional control in the men’s basketball program, but admitted some minor violations.

The school, in a 100-page-plus response to the NCAA, said it had forfeited a basketball scholarship this year and would do the same next year. It also said no junior college athletes would be given scholarships for the next two years.

Center Bob Hall was dismissed from the Louisiana State basketball team for the remainder of the season for academic reasons, coach Dale Brown announced. Hall’s suspension is the ninth for LSU this season.

Kansas (27-1), Minnesota (24-2) and Kentucky (26-3) held the top spots in the college basketball poll, the Jayhawks’ 13th straight week at No. 1. The week’s only newcomer, St. Joseph’s, hasn’t been ranked for at least two decades and the Hawks (19-6) come in at No. 23.

Connecticut (26-0) made it 10 straight weeks at No. 1 in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll. Old Dominion (26-1), a winner of 25 straight, remained second, and Stanford (27-1) held on at No. 3.