Power of Caring
  presented by CIGNA

Bender turns pro

Mississippi State signee to enter NBA draft instead

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Sunday May 16, 1999 05:49 PM

Making the jump: Averaging 21 points and 15 rebounds this past season, Bender is projected to be an NBA lottery pick. Ezra O. Shaw/Allsport

PICAYUNE, Miss. (AP) -- Picayune High School center Jonathan Bender, who broke Michael Jordan's record with 31 points in the McDonald's All-America game, said Sunday that he had declared himself eligible for the June 30 NBA Draft.

Sports Illustrated's Seth Davis first reported Bender's decision May 10.

By beating a midnight Sunday deadline to make his intention known to the NBA, the 6-foot-11 Bender backed out of a national letter of intent that he signed with Mississippi State.

An NBA spokesman said the league won't make an official announcement of early entries until Monday. At least 15 players have declared for early entry in the draft, with Bender the only high school player among the group.

Bender didn't have an expected news conference to announce his decision, said Sunday that he was going to turn pro.

Bender averaged 25 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots a game as a senior at Picayune. But it was his performance in the March 25 McDonald's game, when he broke Jordan's scoring record, that increased his draft status.

If Bender is a lottery selection as projected, and taken among the top 13 picks in the NBA draft, he could make about $9 million his first three seasons.

Thaddeus Fouchier, Bender's summer-league team coach, said the youngster's draft position was too good to pass up.

Lottery hopefuls How the NBA lottery picks might shape up with Corey Maggette, Lamar Odom and Jonathan Bender all eligible (team order based on lottery chances) No. Team Player Pos. School 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Vancouver L.A. Clippers Chicago Toronto (from Den.) Minn. (from N.J.) Washington Boston (or Cle.) Phoenix (from Dal.) Golden State Cleveland Toronto Seattle Charlotte Lamar Odom Steve Francis Elton Brand Baron Davis Corey Maggette Andre Miller Wally Szczerbiak Jonathan Bender Jason Terry Richard Hamilton Alek Radojevic Jumaine Jones William Avery F G F G G G F C G G C F G Rhode Island Maryland Duke UCLA Duke Utah Miami (OH) Picayune, Miss. (HS) Arizona Connecticut Barton Co. (Kan.) JC Georgia Duke

"We were told that Jonathan is the only high school player who would go among the top eight to 10 picks in the draft," Fouchier said.

Under a new NCAA rule, high school players are ineligible to play college basketball once they apply for the draft.

The underclassmen who have declared themselves eligible for the NBA draft are Ron Artest from St. John's, William Avery, Elton Brand and Corey Maggette of Duke, Carl Boyd of California; Baron Davis of UCLA; Steve Francis of Maryland; Dion Glover of Georgia Tech; Richard Hamilton of Connecticut; Jumaine Jones of Georgia; Lamont Long of New Mexico; Jamaal Magliore of Kentucky; Shawn Marion of UNLV; and Albert White of Missouri.

NCAA players can return to college if they don't sign with agent, regardless of draft status.

 

Related information
Stories
SI's Seth Davis: Bender going straight to NBA
Multimedia
Click here for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI.