Already, this year’s NBA predraft camp at Moody Bible Institute was expected to feature a shallower talent pool because of a new rule the NCAA passed last month. Now the camp is one day shorter because of the severe weather that hit the Chicago area Tuesday.
The night session that was to kick off the four-day event Tuesday was canceled because about half of the 65 players had travel delays. Chris Ekstrand, the editor of the NBA draft guide and coordinator of the camp, also said several general managers and team personnel directors were unable to fly to Chicago.
Drills and scrimmages will begin Wednesday.
Previously underclassmen could attend the camp, test their skills and return to school as long as they didn’t hire an agent. Now players will be suspended an equal number of games played at the event–typically, three or four–if they choose to return to school.
The ruling has caused several underclassmen, including Ball State’s Theron Smith, to drop out. Stanford’s Casey Jacobsen previously had said he wouldn’t attend the camp.
Still, players like Oregon guard Freddie Jones, Michigan State guard Marcus Taylor, Cincinnati guard Steve Logan and Notre Dame forward Ryan Humphrey are expected to be monitored closely this week.
Rockets to China: Houston is assembling a delegation to travel to China to discuss selecting 7-foot-5 Yao Ming with the first pick of the June 26 draft. Houston television station KRIV reported that general manager Carroll Dawson, coach Rudy Tomjanovich and team attorney Mike Goldberg could make the trip as early as this week.
