Likely Top Pick Beasley Declares for NBA
AP
Posted: 2008-05-16 14:42:05
MANHATTAN, Kan. (April 14) - After putting together one of the best freshman seasons ever, Michael Beasley is headed to the NBA.
Tyler Hansbrough bucked the trend and decided not to put his name in for the NBA Draft before Sunday's deadline. Click through the gallery to find out the stars who have decided to make the early leap instead.
Kansas State's All-American freshman announced Monday that he will skip his final three seasons to enter the June 26 NBA draft, where he could be the No. 1 overall pick.
"It's time to take my game to the next level," Beasley said as his family and several teammates looked on. "I think I proved myself over the course of the season. I just think it's time for new challenges."
Beasley dominated his lone college season, averaging 26.2 points and becoming just the third freshman in NCAA history to lead the nation in rebounds at 12.4 per game. He had the second-most rebounds and third-most points by a freshman in NCAA history, helping Kansas State to its first NCAA tournament victory in 20 years.
Beasley also was a consensus All American, was named Big 12 player of the year and finished second to North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough for numerous player of the year awards.
"Mike's as good as I've seen," said Kansas State coach Frank Martin, seated next to Beasley in front of dozens of reporters.
NBA scouts and general managers like him, too.
An agile, 6-foot-10 power forward, Beasley is exceptionally versatile, able to power his way inside or step out to the perimeter, shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc.
NBA officials came out in droves to watch him play at nearly every game and some general managers spent three to four days at a time in Manhattan, leading to speculation that Beasley would be the No. 1 overall draft pick if he left school early.
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self poses with students in Boys Town, Neb., Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Self, who visited Boys Town before appearing at an Omaha sports banquet in the evening, said he'll have no idea what the roster for the defending NCAA champions will look like until after June's NBA draft. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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Kansas basketball coach Bill Self, center, jokes during a visit to Boys Town, Neb., Wednesday, May 7, 2008, as he stands near Boys Town Executive Director Steve Boes, left. said he'll have no idea what the roster for the defending NCAA champions will look like until after June's NBA draft. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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Kansas basketball coach Bill Self, left, takes questions from students during a visit to Boys Town, Neb., Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Self, who was in Omaha for a sports banquet, said he'll have no idea what the roster for the defending NCAA championship team will look like until after June's NBA draft. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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** FILE ** In this Jan. 9, 2008 file photo, LSU's Garrett Temple (14) knocks the ball away from Mississippi State's Ben Hansbrough, right, and Temple eventually ends up with the ball during the first half of a college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La. Hansbrough, who helped Mississippi State advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament last month, is transferring to Notre Dame. (AP Photo/Bill Feig, File)
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Memphis head coach John Calipari smiles as he answers a question at a news conference at the college basketball Final Four in this April 6, 2008 file photo, in San Antonio. Calipari has signed a contract extension through the 2012-13 season that includes an annual raise of $500,000. Calipari will make $2.35 million per year and will receive a $5 million bonus if he stays through the end of the deal, athletic director R.C. Johnson announced Saturday, April 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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** FILE ** This March 27, 2008 file photo shows Texas guard D.J. Augustin (14) smiling during a news conference at the NCAA South Regional basketball tournament in Houston. All-American point guard D.J. Augustin says he is leaving Texas after two seasons to turn pro. He said Wednesday April 23, 2008 that he has long dreamed of playing in the NBA and that he is "ready to start living this dream." (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
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** FILE ** In this March 22, 2008 file photo, Mississippi State guard Jamont Gordon responds to a question during a news conference at the NCAA men's basketball tournament South Regional in North Little Rock, Ark. Gordon has decided to turn pro but won't hire an agent before the NBA draft. Gordon told The Associated Press he planned to file the paperwork. In a phone interview Tuesday afternoon April 22, 2008, Gordon said he intends to go through with the draft if he remains injury free. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
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** FILE ** In this March 23, 2008 file photo, Mississippi State guard Jamont Gordon (44) takes a shot as Memphis guard Antonio Anderson (5) defends in the first half of an NCAA men's basketball second-round South Regional game in North Little Rock, Ark. Gordon has decided to turn pro but won't hire an agent before the NBA draft. Gordon told The Associated Press he planned to file the paperwork. In a phone interview Tuesday afternoon April 22, 2008, Gordon said he intends to go through with the draft if he remains injury free. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
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** FILE ** This March 19, 2006 file photo shows Bucknell basketball coach Pat Flannery pleading with an official during the first half of their NCAA tournament second-round basketball game against Memphis in Dallas. Flannery is retiring after 14 years on the bench at his alma mater. A person at the university told The Associated Press of Flannery's retirement Friday morning, April 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam, File)
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** FILE ** Memphis coach John Calipari talks with Memphis freshman guard Derrick Rose (23) in the first half of the NCAA South Regional basketball final in Houston in this March 30, 2008 file photo, in Houston. Rose announced on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 he was jumping to the NBA, the same day Calipari agreed in principle to a contract extension with the school. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
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Millions of dollars awaits Beasley in the NBA, but it still wasn't an easy decision to leave school.
He spent the weekend debating whether he should stay or go, talking with family, friends and coaches about the NBA. It wasn't until Monday morning, just hours before his self-imposed deadline, that Beasley made his final decision.
"I kind of made my mind up, then went back to being undecided, made my mind up, then went back to being undecided," said Beasley, who signed with agent Joe Bell. "Today was when my decision stuck."
Beasley leaned heavily on his mother, Fatima Smith, and Martin in making his decision.
Smith has been Beasley's main supporter, helping him as he bounced from once high school to another after his pranks wore thin, moving her family to tiny Manhattan once he decided to attend Kansas State. She was there again when the time came for 'Lil Mike, as she calls him, to make a decision about the NBA.
"The best thing I could have done was let him breathe, come to some decisions on his own, let him come to me with some questions," Smith said. "And once he came to me with some questions, I kind of guided him and turned the questions around: 'what would you do or how do you think this would happen?' It was still a battle up until last night, until this morning."
Martin didn't hesitate in offering his opinion.
Certainly, he would have loved for Beasley to stay. What coach wouldn't want a player like him for four years, dominating games, drawing national attention to the school? But as someone who scratched and clawed his way out of a poor neighborhood to make a name for himself, Martin knew what going to the NBA would mean for Beasley and his family.
AUBURN HILLS, MI - APRIL 23: The Automotion Dancers perform in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Detroit Pistons and the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2008 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2008 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in AuburnHills, Michigan. The Pistons won 105-88. (D. Lippitt/Einstein, NBAE/Getty Images)
BOSTON - APRIL 20: A Celtics Dancer performs in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on April 20, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics won 104-81. (Brian Babineau, NBAE/Getty Images)
DENVER - APRIL 28: The Denver Nuggets Cheerleaders perform during a break in the action against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on April 28, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. The Lakers defeated the Nuggets 107-101 and clinched their playoff series 4-0. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)
ATLANTA - APRIL 26: An Atlanta Hawks cheerleader strikes a pose while performing an on-court routine during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at the Philips Arena on April 26, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Hawks beat the Celtics 102-93. (Mike Zarrilli, Getty Images)
PHOENIX - APRIL 27: A Phoenix Suns cheerleader performs in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the San Antonio Spurs during the 2008 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2008 at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns won 105-86. (Joe Murphy, NBAE/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI - APRIL 29: An Automotion dancer performs in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Detroit Pistons and the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills on April 29, 2008 in AuburnHills, Michigan. The Pistons 98-81. (Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
Cheerleaders react as Dallas Stars' Joel Lundqvist (39) collides with San Jose Sharks' Douglas Murray, causing the glass to break during the first period in Game 6 of their NHL Western Conference semi-final NHL hockey game in Dallas, Texas, May 4, 2008. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES)
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A cheerleader animates the crowd as Boca Junior's Juan Roman Riquelme enters the pitch before the game against River Plate of the Argentina's first league soccer game at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Sunday, May 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Eduardo Di Baia)
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Cheerleaders perform during a time out at the Euroleague Men Final Four basketball game between Tau Ceramica and CSKA Moscow in Madrid May 2, 2008. REUTERS/Sergio Perez (SPAIN)
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Cheerleaders heading to their next match venue are seen with their belongings at the airport in Calcutta, India, Monday, April 21, 2008. The foreign cheerleaders were brought in to show India's cricket fans how to shake their pompoms _ but not every one was impressed. The New Delhi team said Wednesday it was switching its cheerleaders for a band of drummers, while Mumbai politicians have forced their dancing girls to cover up, saying the performances were lewd and not appropriate for India's traditional culture.(AP Photo)
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"I'm of the opinion if someone has the opportunity to be worth $100 million, they go take advantage when that opportunity presents itself because that window isn't always open," Martin said.
Beasley said at the start of the season that he wanted to play at Kansas State for four years, that he had made a commitment and wanted to earn a degree. He started hinting that he might not stick around early in the season and ultimately decided the money was just too much to pass up.
"I just think it's the right decision for my family financially," Beasley said. "I feel that by me going to the NBA, I can take care of my family, make sure our lives are better."
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