Sophomores Overshadow Nba Draft

They’re young and they’re restless.

“I’m not the type of player to sit on the bench,” says Maryland sophomore Joe Smith, tentatively projected as the No. 1 selection in Wednesday’s NBA college draft. “I’m a player. It does mean a lot to be selected No. 1. It’s like bragging rights.”

Which could go to North Carolina sophomore Jerry Stackhouse, supposedly the Golden State Warriors’ other possibility for the top pick in the draft, a dashing player who has been favorably compared to another former North Carolina star, Michael Jordan.

“I’m flattered by the comparisons,” says Stackhouse. “But it’s unfair right now to be mentioned with things Jordan has done.”

But perhaps soon?

“He’s got the maturity of a senior,” says Clippers coach Bill Fitch. “His role has been to make people around him better. He’s not a point guard, but he gets the ball to people. He’s not a terrific outside shooter, but he shoots the ball right.”

Alabama sophomore Antonio McDyess’ main strength is getting the ball back for his team.

“The most explosive player in the draft,” says Pacers President Donnie Walsh. “He’s one of the best prospects I’ve seen at power forward in years. If it were me, I’d pick him first.”

Which some are starting to say about Chicago high school star Kevin Garnett from Farragut, who figures to be selected either fourth in the draft, or fifth behind North Carolina sophomore Rasheed Wallace.

“He may be the best talent in the draft,” says Pistons coach-general manager Doug Collins. “He runs, passes, catches, shoots, he’s got great footwork. He looks you in the eye when you talk to him; he’s articulate, humble. If he were to come out next year, he’d probably be No. 2 behind (Wake Forest’s) Tim Duncan. The year after, he’d probably be picked No. 1.”

That would be as only a sophomore, which this is the year of in the NBA draft, a soap opera that has become a continuing story in recent years and has been much debated and criticized, yet embraced.

Of the top three picks in the last four drafts, three have been seniors, three have been juniors and three - Jason Kidd, Chris Webber and Shawn Bradley - have been sophomores.

Last year, 6 of 11 lottery picks were early entries (non-seniors) with one sophomore. In 1993, five of the top nine picks were early entries with two sophomores, and in 1992, two of the top four picks were early entries.

This year, the projected top five picks - Smith, Stackhouse, McDyess, Wallace and Garnett - and at least a half-dozen other first-round picks are early entries.

“This draft is unlike any we’ve seen in the history of the league because of the number of underclassmen,” says Orlando personnel director John Gabriel. “And you’ve also got a high school player who is part of the impact group.

“It puts a lot of pressure on everyone,” says Gabriel, “the kid because of the demands of being a high draft pick, and the teams because it’s much harder to predict success with a player coming out early. A sophomore has 60 less college games. You call the coach and he has 200 less practices to tell you how fundamentally sound the kid might be.

“And then,” says Gabriel, “you have to go in front of your owner and ask for $50 million. And the kid’s is just clearing up.”

Often sophomores have not been able to handle the pressure, the money, the acclaim of coming into the NBA as high draft picks.

Ennis Whatley was picked in the first round by the Bulls in 1983 and ended up on drugs; so did sophomore Chris Washburn, Golden State’s No. 1 in 1986. And Washington’s John Williams ate himself out of the league after knee problems. Rex Chapman never became the standout he was expected to be, and neither did sophomore Tito Horford.

But sophomore Magic Johnson did, and so did sophomore Isiah Thomas. Likewise, Kidd was corookie of the year last season after leaving California after his second year, that being a year after Webber was rookie of the year.

Of course, Webber also got himself traded after an adolescent-like snit with then-Warriors coach Don Nelson.

“None of these guys are ready,” says Hawks general manager Pete Babcock. “Most go to teams that really need help. They can’t meet expectations, and it turns out to be a bad experience for everyone involved. That they’re coming out for the money is understandable. But if it weren’t for the money, they would be making a terrible mistake.”

That is generally the consensus. NBA teams prefer seniors like Grant Hill and UCLA’s Ed O’Bannon.

“It’s no coincidence UCLA won,” notes Collins. “They had seniors - O’Bannon, (Tyus) Edney, (George) Zidek.”

Still, that won’t stop any of the top teams from making the top five of this year’s draft a veritable NBA nursery school.