Duncan Wins Wooden

Tim Duncan, one of the few college basketball standouts these days to use all of his eligibility, was honored as winner of the 21st annual John R. Wooden Award, which goes to the college male player of the year.

A 6-foot-10 senior from Wake Forest, Duncan was a runaway winner, receiving 4,764 points from nearly 1,000 sportswriters and sportscasters.

God Shammgod will return to Providence College and play basketball next season.

At least that’s what he said Friday.

According to Shammgod, reports that he’ll soon announce passing up his final two years at Providence to enter the NBA draft are untrue. But he also said he’s exploring his options and has not ruled out an eventual jump to the pros.

A published report in the Boston Globe said Shammgod will turn pro, but a school spokesman and three people close to the sophomore disputed it.

Colorado point guard Chauncey Billups confirmed what had been rumored for several days, that he will skip his final two years of college eligibility to enter the NBA draft.

Billups, an Associated Press second-team All-American who led Colorado to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1969, is projected to be one of the top 10 players drafted this summer.