Sources: Ohio State's Oden to enter draft
According to several reports, Ohio State's Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr., and Daequan Cook will all make themselves available for the NBA draft.
According to several reports, Ohio State's Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr., and Daequan Cook will all make themselves available for the NBA draft.
ESPN.com, the Columbus Dispatch and FoxSports.com each cited sources saying the trio would formally announce their intentions today.
Other reports indicated Conley and Cook would return to Ohio State. But all cited sources saying Oden, the 7-foot freshman star, is headed for the NBA.
"There will be a release in the morning from Ohio State. Greg Oden will be hiring an agent," said Al Powell, who has been a party to meetings between Oden and the two other Buckeyes freshman stars considering the draft.
As for Conley and Cook, Powell was less specific, although other reports indicated they would enter the draft.
"Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook will not be hiring an agent at this time," Powell said.
He would not say if that means they will stay at Ohio State.
Powell is a paid assistant coach at Dayton's Dunbar High School and helped coach all three players when they played AAU ball.
Noteworthy
* The Miami Herald reported that Pat Riley, who took time off this season for surgery on his left hip and right knee, plans to return as president and head coach of the Heat.
* Kevin McHale said he will return as vice president of basketball operations of the Minnesota Timberwolves next season and plans to bring back star Kevin Garnett and coach Randy Wittman with him.
* NBA teams averaged 17,757 fans per game, surpassing its previous best average. The previous mark was set last season, when the average of 17,558 fans led to a total of just under 21.6 million. The top three teams in average attendance were Chicago (22,253), Detroit (22,076) and Cleveland (20,436). *