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Brand opts for the NBA

Player of the year first to leave Duke early

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Posted: Wednesday April 14, 1999 02:45 PM

Elton Brand was honored this year by four different associations as the top national player. AP

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- Sophomore Elton Brand, the consensus national college player of the year who led Duke to the NCAA championship game, announced Wednesday he is leaving Duke for the pro ranks.

"Because of how well he has done, the decision-making process has been moved up," said his coach, Mike Krzyzewski. "Elton is making the right decision for everyone involved. I am 100 percent in support of it."

Brand said he planned to finish this semester at Duke and attend summer school before embarking on his pro career.

"I will eventually finish, but just not in the four-year time period," he said. "I will always be a part of Duke, the coaches and the team."

Brand appeared at a news conference Wednesday with associate head basketball coach Johnny Dawkins to announce his decision. Krzyzewski, who is recovering from hip surgery, spoke on a telephone hookup.

Brand is the first Duke undergraduate to leave the Blue Devils program for the pros.

The 6-foot-8 Brand averaged 17.8 points and 9.8 rebounds this past season. He was the main cog in the Blue Devil team that compiled a 37-2 record and made it to the NCAA championship game, where it lost to Connecticut.

Brand was the first sophomore to win the John R. Wooden Award, presented by the Los Angeles Athletic Club to college basketball's top player. Brand also was honored this season by The Associated Press, the Atlanta Tipoff Club and the United States Basketball Writers Association as national player of the year.

Some basketball observers said Brand's announcement could lead sophomore Will Avery and freshman Corey Maggette also to jump to the pros.

Avery's mother, Terry Simonton, said she and her son met Friday with Krzyzewski at his home to discuss Avery's pro prospects. She said her son is leaning toward staying in school next season.

"When we talked to him, we were staying," she told The News & Observer of Raleigh. "But K said it wasn't a decision that has to be rushed."

Underclassmen have until May 15 to announce their intentions.

 

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