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Kentucky's Nazr Mohammed (13) dunks one in during the second half of the NCAA Men's Final Four semifinal game against Stanford, March 28, 1998, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Mohammed, whose shot blocking and rebounding helped lead Kentucky to the NCAA basketball championship, said Monday, May 4, 1998 he would forgo a senior season and enter the NBA draft.Associated Press

Kentucky center heads for NBA

Mohammed, a 6-foot-10 center, said he would not hire an agent in order to protect his college eligibility in case he changes his mind

Web posted May 5, 1998

By Charles Wolfe
Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Nazr Mohammed, whose shot blocking and rebounding helped lead Kentucky to the NCAA basketball championship, said Monday he would forgo a senior season and enter the NBA draft.

Mohammed, a 6-foot-10 center, said he would not hire an agent in order to protect his college eligibility in case he changes his mind before the June draft. He has until seven days prior to the draft to withdraw his name and return for a final year.

But Marty Blake, the NBA's director of scouting, said Kentucky coach Tubby Smith contacted the league about Mohammed's potential in the draft. Blake said he told Smith: ``The guy's not ready to play.''

Another season of college ball would help Mohammed in virtually every aspect -- educationally, emotionally, physically, artistically and financially, Blake said at the time.

``I'm in a great situation where I can explore my options,'' Mohammed said at a news conference, seated alongside coach Tubby Smith.

Mohammed led Kentucky in rebounding with 7.2 per game and blocked 75 shots. He hit 60 percent of his field goal attempts, mostly from short range, and developed a deft hook shot.

If drafted even as low as 29th, Mohammed would be guaranteed an aggregate $1.8 million for three seasons.

Jim Mitchell, a Lexington-based scout for the Los Angeles Clippers, estimated this spring that Mohammed would be among the top 20 draft picks.

The Wildcats have been in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament four times in the 1990s, including championships in 1996 and 1998. The biggest stars of the previous teams opted for early jumps to the NBA.

Jamal Mashburn, now of the Miami Heat, entered the 1993 draft. Antoine Walker and Ron Mercer, both of the Boston Celtics, left Kentucky after the 1996 and 1997 seasons, respectively.

But Smith said he tells recruits about players who get their degrees, not about a Kentucky pipeline to the NBA.

``Obviously, people see it,'' he said. ``That's not why we recruit kids, so they can leave early.''