With final exams finished, Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton —- no longer Georgia Tech freshmen, but not certain to become sophomores —- are about to prepare for exams of another sort.
First, a quiz: What will it take for each player to keep himself in the NBA draft pool past the June 18 deadline to withdraw, and/or hire an agent, which would end their college eligibility?
Young is generally projected to go between No. 12 and 24 in most mock drafts. The top 14 comprise the "lottery."
"Who wouldn't go if they're a lottery pick?" said Young, who did not say that he would definitely return to school if league officials tell him in the next few weeks or so that he's likely to slip below No. 14.
Crittenton, who like Young averaged 14.4 points to share the scoring lead for the Yellow Jackets, is considered by most to be the third-ranked point guard in the draft. "There's not a particular range I have in mind, but once I get a feeling from the GMs where I stand, I'll be able to make a decision," he said.
"You can ask a GM, if you're available will they pick you. You're able to get it straightforward instead of going through this scout and that scout."
Forget the suggestion that Crittenton might be better suited to stay in this draft because it is light on point guards while next year's draft will be thick.
"That's almost like being scared of who's coming out next year, and I've never been scared of anybody in my life," he said. "That is not a factor at all."
On to a bigger test.
Young will begin about one month of workouts today in Chicago under the eye of Tim Grover, who once trained Michael Jordan. Crittenton might join Young to prepare for the NBA's predraft camp May 29-June 1 in Orlando. If not, he'll work out in Atlanta.
Both players said they would likely not play at the camp, but just go through skills, agility and strength tests and be measured, weighed and possibly interviewed.
But underlining how much is to be learned and how much might change, neither has even been invited to the camp. Invitations go out later, and NBA officials are less inclined to invite players who don't play.
Since Young and Crittenton entered the draft two weeks ago, NBA teams may now contact them or family members without risking fines from league officials.
Young said, "I let my dad [Felton Young] and uncle, [New Orleans attorney] Kenneth Carter, handle that."
Crittenton has been leaving most of those conversations to a youth coach, Tommy Slaughter, and Tech coach Paul Hewitt.
Draft-eligible players cannot go through private workouts with teams until after the pre-draft camp.
Young and Crittenton like their options: get paid to play basketball or return to an NCAA tournament-caliber team that loses one regular player, senior guard Mario West, with strong recruits coming in.
"That's something Coach [Hewitt] kind of stressed," Crittenton said. "It's not like you go to the NBA or you go to jail. Either you go to the NBA or you come back to college. That's another chance to up your stock. That's a great situation."
Said Young: "If it doesn't work out, I'll be back. I just wanted to put myself in a win-win situation."
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Players I don't like: Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Marcus Camby, Andre Miller, Emeka Okafor, Chris Paul, Nate Robinson, Derrick Rose and David West
Favorite Players: Kenyon Martin, Brook Lopez, J.R. Smith, Deron Williams, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Thaddeus Young, Danny Granger, Jason Maxiell and Nicolas Batum
Javarris Crittenton's Georgia Tech basketball career is over after one season.
The Yellow Jackets' freshman point guard has decided to keep his name in next month's NBA draft after a season in which he averaged 14.4 points (tied for the team lead) and 5.8 assists (second-best in the ACC).
"I'd like to announce that I will remain in the 2007 NBA draft and forgo my college eligibility," Crittenton, an Atlanta native, said in a statement. "I've met with my family, as well as Coach (Paul) Hewitt, and everyone has given me their support and blessing. I see this as an opportunity, and I plan to put my best foot forward and give it my all. I'd like to thank all of my coaches, teammates and fans for a great time at Georgia Tech."
Crittenton is the seventh Tech underclassmen to enter the NBA draft and the first since junior Jarrett Jack did it in 2005. NBADraft.net projects him as the No. 15 pick, to the Detroit Pistons.
Tech freshman forward and co-scoring leader Thaddeus Young has not yet announced whether he'll keep his name in the draft. Young is projected by many as a lottery pick.
So which team is whispering the right words to him?
__________________
Players I don't like: Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Marcus Camby, Andre Miller, Emeka Okafor, Chris Paul, Nate Robinson, Derrick Rose and David West
Favorite Players: Kenyon Martin, Brook Lopez, J.R. Smith, Deron Williams, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Thaddeus Young, Danny Granger, Jason Maxiell and Nicolas Batum
Javaris Crittenton
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