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13 April 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Devin Ebanks submitted his name for the 2010 NBA Draft on Monday, which most saw to be as imminent as the arrival of pollen following West Virginia's first Final Four in 51 years.
This is nothing to sneeze at, however.
The day Kevin Pittsnogle declared for the draft after a surreal surge to the 2005 NCAA Elite Eight, he and then-Coach John Beilein emceed a conference call to discuss and commemorate the occasion.
Hard to blame them. For the longest time, you couldn't associate the NBA with WVU outside of Jerry West, Rod Thorn and "Hot" Rod Hundley.
Times change. How much isn't as remarkable as how fast. Two years ago, Joe Alexander was the No. 8 pick in the draft after he decided to skip his senior season. Last year, WVU issued a brief statement that said Ebanks wouldn't enter the draft.
So if Monday's news came as a surprise, you should probably remove the hand covering your eyes. This was going to happen. If not last year, then this year. If not this year, then next year. An early entry into the NBA seemed obvious from the day Ebanks signed with WVU 23 months ago.
This was the era WVU was entering. Now it is there.
People will debate his decision and it will be a complicated process for Ebanks. Rookie contracts are going to shrink after the current NBA labor deal runs out after the 2010-11 season. This is probably the last cash-grab for rookies, and there's a chance there might be a lockout before the 2011-12 season, which is an altogether different problem.
Is there more he can do in college? On one hand, sure. He'd work on weaknesses and flex strengths. He'd get closer to a degree. He'd be a more refined player and person.
On the other hand, there's a risk - and that cold reality showed in Da'Sean Butler, who tore knee ligaments in his final WVU game and has underwent surgery with the June 24 draft little more than two months away.
Ebanks also has helped a team reach the Final Four and he's made WVU a destination for players like him who have considerable skill and colossal dreams and need a place to learn and develop. Times change, and even if Ebanks takes a paycheck over a diploma, he can take credit for that and perhaps enhancing the Mountaineer future.
Ebanks gives WVU a chance to flaunt its success. The Mountaineers were even on scholarships with Wellington Smith and Butler set to graduate and their spots to be claimed by Logan High guard Noah Cottrill and Mountain State Academy center David Nyarsuk.
Ebanks' scholarship would open up and WVU is believed to be after Ohio guard Doron Lamb and/or Tennessee guard Todd Mayo (younger brother of O.J.), to join the recruiting class.
The first time I met Ebanks in a gymnasium in Greentree, Pa., he said if he needed one year to get ready for the NBA, he'd play one year. If he needed four, he'd use four. If in between he thought he was ready and discovered he wasn't, he'd work on changing that opinion.
Ebanks hasn't signed with an agent, which means he's preserved his amateurism and his eligibility and can choose to return to school by May 8. Then again, no agent is no news, either.
Should he sign with an agent, the amateurism and eligibility are no more and he can't return to NCAA play. Say he signs with an agent today. If he breaks a bone or tears a ligament tomorrow and can't audition adequately, if at all, he's left with nothing.
