Carroll declares for 2007 NBA Draft
USU junior guard Jaycee Carroll announced Monday that he will declare for the NBA Draft.
But, before people start lamenting the loss of the Western Athletic Conference’s leading scorer, they can hear Carroll out.
“I’m a long shot. It’d have to be looking pretty good, like I was going to be a pretty sought after, first-round draft pick for me not to come back,” he said. “That’s the only way I’d even think about it. If I was looking like I’d be a first-round draft pick with a guaranteed contract, then there’d be a thought about leaving.”
Since Carroll hasn’t hired an agent, he can withdraw his name from the pool of NBA hopefuls and retain his college eligibility as long as he does so before June 18.
The NBA Draft will be held on June 28.
Last season, Carroll averaged 21.3 points, which led the WAC and placed him 10th in the nation in scoring. He was named first-team all-WAC and Honorable Mention All-American by the Associated Press.
After his successful junior season, Carroll said he decided to use this experience as a measuring stick to how he stacks up with other NBA prospects out there.
“I’ve been told and heard there is some interest and there might be some opportunities,” he said in a conference call Monday. “I’m a long shot for sure, but if by doing this it will help my chances at all and narrow the gap from being a long to having a shot, it’s something I want to do.”
Carroll said the NBA has been his dream for a long time, and he didn’t want to miss any opportunities that would help him make that dream come true.
For Carroll, it isn’t just a dream though. He sees this as a challenge, which will help him improve and stay on top of his game.
“It’s an opportunity. It’s a challenge, and hopefully I can prepare myself and step up for the challenge that’s ahead of me,” he said.
Carroll said he has been thinking about this for a while. He said he had conversations with Boise State’s Coby Karl at the WAC preseason meetings and over the phone with his former teammate Spencer Nelson, and he said he liked what they had to say about the opportunities declaring offered.
“I talked to Spencer Nelson and got his advice, and everything just seemed to point in this direction,” Carroll said.
Along with support from his former teammate, Carroll said USU Head Coach Stew Morrill also supports his decision. He said he sat down with Morrill, who was positive about the situation, and helped Carroll get all the information he needed to make an informed decision.
Carroll isn’t alone in his decision to declare. His decision comes after Nevada guards Marcelus Kemp and Ramon Sessions declared their intentions to enter the NBA Draft.
Other big-name underclassmen have declared for the NBA Draft as well, including Texas freshman Kevin Durant, Ohio State freshman Greg Oden, Florida junior Corey Brewer and UCLA junior Aaron Afflalo.
But those guys aren’t looking to return to college. Carroll is.
He even said he’s been looking forward to his senior season ever since the end of this season.
“(Fans) shouldn’t worry too much. I love USU and I enjoy my time here … It would take a lot to get me away from here,” Carroll said.
-dabake@cc.usu.edu