KFDM COOP Posted April 14, 2008 Report Posted April 14, 2008 Report: K-State's Beasley expected to enter NBA draft MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Michael Beasley reportedly is expected to leave Kansas State after one season and enter the NBA draft. Ford: Who's In, Who's Out Underclassmen will transform the 2008 NBA draft. Chad Ford takes a look at who's going, who's staying and who's on the fence. Story "That's what he wants to do. Mike feels he can play with anybody," Curtis Malone, Beasley's former AAU coach, told the Kansas City Star. Malone told the newspaper that he talked with Beasley as late as Sunday. "My last words to him were, 'Do what you feel is best.' He's considered the option of going back," Malone told the Star. "He doesn't want to be selfish, either. But he also wants to take care of his family." While Beasley is expected to be one of the top picks in the June 26 draft if he declares, the consensus All-American called in advisers and family members over the weekend to help him make a choice before his self-imposed 6 p.m. ET deadline. Nobody doubts his NBA potential. Quick, strong and agile, the 6-foot-10 power forward had the second-most rebounds and third-most points of any freshman in NCAA history and led the Wildcats to their first NCAA tournament victory in 20 years. "There's no question in my mind who the best player in the country is," said Kansas coach Bill Self. "It's Michael Beasley. He may not win all the player of the year awards, but he's the best player." Kansas State coach Frank Martin has made no secret of his advice for Beasley. "I think he's going to go, and I think it's the right thing to do, because he's going to be the top pick in the draft," Martin said in an interview with The Associated Press. His friends know Beasley as a big, playful kid who will jolt teammates out of bed in the morning by shooting them with a water pistol. Opposing players know him as the bruising forward who averaged 26.2 points and a nation-leading 12.4 rebounds. The day he arrived at Kansas State as the most highly advertised recruit in school history, he talked about sticking around. "I don't want to be an athletic student," he said. "I want to be a student-athlete." Nevertheless, most fans and basketball experts believe Beasley will turn pro no matter how much he enjoys college life. "In life, you only have so many opportunities for certain things," Martin said. "He's got a huge opportunity right now. But there are a whole lot of different factors that go into play when you've got to make a hard decision. He's got to make sure he does what's best for himself and his family."
Guest DickVitale Posted April 14, 2008 Report Posted April 14, 2008 :o :o....shocking...the best college basketball player in America turning pro? whoa. :
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