Pargo: It’s first round or back to GU

LAKE BEUNA VISTA, Fla. – There’s only one way Gonzaga guard Jeremy Pargo won’t be back in Spokane for his senior season – if an NBA franchise promises to draft him in the first round.

Pargo was in the Orlando-area the past week to take part in the NBA’s 2008 Pre-Draft Camp. He was one of 64 camp participants trying to impress representatives from every NBA team.

“I had my ups and downs but for the most part I think I played pretty well,” Pargo said. “But it’s really not for me to judge. It’s up to these scouts and general managers that were here watching.”

In the three games he played, Pargo’s team was 1-2. He averaged 11.7 points and 4.7 assists per game but shot just 41 percent from the field.

“I guess you can say I put the decision in their hands by coming out here and playing,” he said. “Hopefully they like what they saw.”

The always confident Pargo said he wasn’t intimidated playing with some of the best college players in the country and won’t be if he does make the jump to the NBA.

“Being from Chicago you’ve always got a little confidence and a little edge,” Pargo said. “Seeing guys like (Memphis guard) Derrick Rose being projected No. 1 or No. 2 and we’re from the same city, same area, that gives you confidence.”

While Pargo said he’s still “50-50” on returning to school, he said that if he doesn’t think he’ll be drafted in the first round, he’ll definitely be back.

“If I feel like I have an opportunity to go in the first round I’m going to jump on it,” he said. “But if I feel like the best situation is for me to go back to school that’s what I’m going to do.”

Pargo’s first workout is scheduled for Tuesday in Boston. The Celtics have the No. 30 pick in the 2008 draft, the last selection in the first round.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to go up there and capitalize on the opportunity and improve on some of the things I didn’t do well here,” he said.

Pargo has until June 16 to make his final draft decision and he said he may wait as long as possible.

“I’m not going to rush anything,” he said. “I want to be able to get as much information as I can so I can make the best possible decision.”

Pargo said going through the draft process without an agent hasn’t been much of a challenge, partially due to the fact this his brother Jannero Pargo is an established NBA veteran.

“My brother gets a lot of feedback from people in the NBA,” Jeremy said. “I’m just going to follow directions from people around me.”

Pargo said that if he does return to Gonzaga, the college basketball world better be prepared.

“I think we’ll be the best team in the country to be honest,” he said.

The draft is June 26 in New York City.