NBA draft
* When: 4 p.m. next Thursday
* Where: Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York
* TV: ESPN
By Bruce Pascoe
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
PHOENIX - The Suns have declared them-selves uninterested in UA signee Ndudi Ebi, who has until today to pull himself from the NBA draft and play college basketball for the Wild-cats.
The only question is if there are enough NBA teams that have given the Houston high school standout indications he will be taken in the first round, where players' contracts are guaranteed for three years.
If so, Ebi is expected to stay in the draft past today's deadline, hire an agent and forgo his college eligibility.
Although ESPN.com has spec-ulated that the Suns will take Ebi with their 17th overall pick in next week's draft, assuming Ebi does not pull out, Phoenix general manager Bry-an Colangelo said he has told UA coach Lute Olson that
his team will not take Ebi with
that selection.
Further, while other teams might gamble a first-round pick on Ebi because of his potential, Ebi will be better off in school, Colangelo said.
"I've been encouraging his advisers to make that decision,'' Colangelo said. "I went as far as to say we would not have him in for a workout.''
Although the Suns were successful in selecting Amare Stoud-emire out of high school last season, Ebi, a 6-foot-10-inch forward, is not as strong physically. Suns player personnel head **** Van Arsdale said Ebi is a long way from being ready to play - although he could eventually become a good NBA player because of his athleticism and size.
"From what I saw, he has a lot of potential. But he's not even close to being ready to play in the NBA,'' Van Arsdale said. "God bless him, but he needs to pull out (today). He needs to go to Arizona. I hope his people are smart enough to make that decision.''
Moreover, what's also keeping the Suns from drafting Ebi is the politics involved in taking a player away from the UA, says Jim Hicks, publisher of the Houston-based Recruiters Cheat Sheet.
Ebi is still projected, however, by hoopshype.com as Atlanta's No. 21 pick overall.
Speculation is all anybody can offer at this point. Ebi, as he did before choosing the UA over Duke last fall, is keeping his feelings private.
Ebi has declined comment repeatedly in phone interviews with the Star this spring, and his father, God-win, also declined to speak last week when asked about his son's intentions.
UA assistant coach Josh Past-ner, who was the lead recruiter for Ebi, said Wednesday he has been in constant contact with Ebi, but Ebi remains undecided.
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