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Mississippi State's Gordon declares for NBA draft
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JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi State point guard Jamont Gordon has decided to turn pro but won’t hire an agent before the NBA draft in case something goes wrong.
Gordon told The Associated Press he filed the paperwork Tuesday afternoon. In a phone interview from Starkville, Gordon said he intends to go through with the draft if he remains injury free and expects his gamble to pay off.
“I was excited about all the information I was getting,” Gordon said.
Gordon sent a letter to the NBA last spring to declare for the draft, but withdrew it two days later before it was logged. Since he did not appear on the NBA’s official early entry list, he can declare for this year’s draft, then change his mind and return to college as long as he doesn’t hire an agent.
This year’s deadline to withdraw is 10 days before the June 26 draft.
Mark Broussard, the NBA’s director of communications, said the league won’t confirm receiving Gordon’s letter until after the April 27 deadline to declare has passed.
Gordon said a handful of scouts he consulted told him he’d likely be a first-round pick.
Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury was on the road recruiting and did not immediately return a message left with his spokesman by the AP. Gordon said he had not yet informed Stansbury of his decision, but that the two had spoken about the future this spring.
“He agrees with me,” Gordon said. “Right after this season he pulled me into his office and he told me he thought I should give it a try because he thought I had a good year, a good, solid career. He thought I’d go in the first round and everything. He was all positive about it.”
A 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior from Nashville, Tenn., Gordon was an all-Southeastern Conference selection this season and just lost out to Vanderbilt’s Shan Foster for league player of the year. He averaged 17.2 points per game and was one of the SEC’s most difficult matchups.
His departure leaves Stansbury with three starters to replace. He also loses senior forward Charles Rhodes and sophomore forward Ben Hansbrough, who decided to transfer.
Gordon led the Bulldogs to two straight SEC West titles and into the second round of the NCAA tournament this season.
“I think I had a good year this year and I just think I’m ready to take it to the next level,” Gordon said.
© 2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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Posted by tigervol9802 on April 22, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Any news/rumors on Tyler Smith?
Posted by knoxnewsuser on April 22, 2008 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Late second round at best.
Posted by murrayvol on April 22, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"The next level." Easily the most overused phrase in athletics.
Posted by IBleedOrange444 on April 22, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
MSU is gonna be in a bad spot next year with all that talent leaving. Gordon played almost the entire game every game so their starting PG next year will probably be very inexperienced! Oh well, good news for us! Their best player next year will be Jarvis-I get away with more fouls than anyone in the SEC- Vernardo. The west looks like it's gonna be real weak next year. Who do ya'll think will win the west? I'm gonna go with Bama.
Posted by brownsvillevol on April 22, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lsu will contend and so will arkansas but i think it will be ole miss but bama should contend as well.
Posted by IBleedOrange444 on April 22, 2008 at 6:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh yeah, I forgot about Ol' Miss. They're gonna be good with their young PG. That kid is blazing fast with the ball!
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