Posted Tuesday, June 28, 1:26 a.m.
NEW YORK - On Tuesday night, the NBA will hold its annual draft in the Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Players will sit at tables, flanked by agents and family, and overwhelmed by nerves. On Monday, before heading to a charity event at the Dunlevy Milbank Center in Manhattan, anxiety was put aside as members of the media spent time with the players at the Westin Times Square.
In recent years, the draft has been a showcase of international and high school talent.
The last time an NCAA player was taken with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft was in 2000, when the New Jersey Nets selected Kenyon Martin. Since the beginning of the new millennium, high school and international players have marginalized the collegiate basketball scene, going first overall since the Washington Wizards selected Kwane Brown in 2001.
This year, former University of Utah standout and Australian native Andrew Bogut is said to be a favorite to be taken No. 1 overall. The draft will be televised on ESPN, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m.
The 2005 draft is the last time young high school stars will be inundating the draft scene. Beginning with the 2006 draft, only players 19 and over and a year removed from high school will be able to play professional ball.
This year's top draft prospects have mixed feelings about the new rule. Syracuse University's four-year star Hakim Warrick does not regret spending his years in college, which included a national championship in 2003.
"I have no regrets about playing for four years. I won a national championship and it was a great time," Warrick said at the Westin Times Square Monday night.
When asked about his opinion of the new rule, he seemed slightly conflicted. The Pennsylvania native said he thought it should be up to the players but added that it's good to sit and wait.
"It's tough," Warrick said. "I think it will help college and the NBA. It helped me a lot."
NEW YORK - On Tuesday night, the NBA will hold its annual draft in the Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Players will sit at tables, flanked by agents and family, and overwhelmed by nerves. On Monday, before heading to a charity event at the Dunlevy Milbank Center in Manhattan, anxiety was put aside as members of the media spent time with the players at the Westin Times Square.
In recent years, the draft has been a showcase of international and high school talent.
The last time an NCAA player was taken with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft was in 2000, when the New Jersey Nets selected Kenyon Martin. Since the beginning of the new millennium, high school and international players have marginalized the collegiate basketball scene, going first overall since the Washington Wizards selected Kwane Brown in 2001.
This year, former University of Utah standout and Australian native Andrew Bogut is said to be a favorite to be taken No. 1 overall. The draft will be televised on ESPN, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m.
The 2005 draft is the last time young high school stars will be inundating the draft scene. Beginning with the 2006 draft, only players 19 and over and a year removed from high school will be able to play professional ball.
This year's top draft prospects have mixed feelings about the new rule. Syracuse University's four-year star Hakim Warrick does not regret spending his years in college, which included a national championship in 2003.
"I have no regrets about playing for four years. I won a national championship and it was a great time," Warrick said at the Westin Times Square Monday night.
When asked about his opinion of the new rule, he seemed slightly conflicted. The Pennsylvania native said he thought it should be up to the players but added that it's good to sit and wait.
"It's tough," Warrick said. "I think it will help college and the NBA. It helped me a lot."
