Morrison may turn pro
Gonzaga University’s Adam Morrison is expected to hold a news conference this week, possibly as early as Wednesday, announcing he will forgo his senior season at GU and declare for this summer’s NBA Draft.
Morrison could not be reached for comment Monday evening, but multiple sources close to the Bulldogs’ 6-foot-8 junior forward and the nation’s top NCAA Division-I scorer said he made his decision to turn pro on Sunday evening.
Morrison’s father, John, said he and his son have been interviewing agents in recent days but added any reports that a hire has been made are “premature.”
One Internet site reported Morrison will sign with Chicago-based agent Mark Bartelstein, but John Morrison insisted that has not happened.
“It’s ridiculous,” the elder Morrison said Monday night of rumors that his son has already hired Bartelstein, thus rendering himself ineligible to play at GU next season. “People are leaking it out somewhere, but Adam hasn’t signed anything yet.
“If everybody can just be patient until the press conference on Wednesday, the rest will take care of itself.”
Phone calls to Bartelstein, who also represents former Gonzaga standouts Dan Dickau and Blake Stepp – along with Chicago Bulls guard Jannero Pargo, the brother of current GU freshman Jeremy Pargo – were not returned on Monday.
John Morrison said it was his understanding that GU officials would arrange a press conference on Wednesday to announce his son’s decision. But Oliver Pierce, the Bulldogs’ sports information director, said late Monday evening that he has not yet heard from the Morrison family.
Gonzaga coaches have indicated since the start of the season they expect Morrison, a graduate of Mead High School, to declare for the 2006 NBA Draft, which will take place June 28 in New York’s Madison Square Garden. Head coach Mark Few, who was visiting family in Oregon over Easter Weekend, could not be reached for comment on Monday, and Bulldogs assistant Leon Rice, who had just returned from a recruiting trip, said he has not talked to Morrison recently.
Morrison, who averaged 28.1 points per game in leading the Bulldogs to a 29-4 record that included an unbeaten 14-0 record in the West Coast Conference and a trip to the Sweet 16 of the 2006 NCAA Tournament, is expected to be among the top 5 players selected in this year’s Draft. He has until midnight (EDT) on April 29 to officially declare for the Draft, but as soon as he hires an agent he will, under NCAA rules, be ineligible to compete at the collegiate level.
Morrison, who was named the WCC’s Player of the Year, edged Duke’s J.J. Redick for this year’s national scoring title, but finished second to the Blue Devils’ senior star in voting for both the Naismith and John R. Wooden Awards for college basketball’s male player of the year.
Morrison did, however, share the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ player-of-the-year award with Redick.
In three season’s at GU, Morrison amassed 1,867 points and ranks No. 3 on the Bulldog’s all-time scoring list behind Frank Burgess (2,196) and Jim McPhee (2,015).
John Morrison said the process of interviewing agents and attending the various post-season award banquets with his son has been “crazy.”