He's Not Ready

I know his old man's in jail, but this would be very foolish.

ST. LOUIS - Kentucky's leading scorer this past season, Kelenna Azubuike, plans to place his name in the NBA Draft.

UK Coach Tubby Smith confirmed that open secret yesterday. Smith added that he would counsel Azubuike not to retain an agent so the player can keep the option of returning to Kentucky next season.

"Let's not go out and get an agent," Smith said he told Azubuike. "Don't do anything you'd regret."

Azubuike, a 6-foot-5 junior guard, led the Cats in scoring and was the team's second-best rebounder this past season.

Smith noted the experience of former UK guard Keith Bogans. Bogans entered the NBA Draft after his junior season, learned at the league's Chicago Pre-Draft Camp that he was not a hot commodity and then elevated his status with a standout senior season.

"We've had players where it's been pretty beneficial" to test the NBA waters, Smith said.
The UK coach suggested that Azubuike could gain similar insight into his strengths and weaknesses.

"What he does with it, that's what concerns me," Smith said.

Early in his UK career, Azubuike said that his father's legal problems would not be a factor in a decision about early entry. His father, Ken Azubuike, was convicted on 41 counts of fraud earlier this season and has been sentenced to 48 months in prison.

Jim Mitchell, a Lexington-based scout for the Los Angeles Clippers, advised Azubuike to return to UK next season.

"He plays in spurts, he scores in spurts," Mitchell said. "Basically, I think he has the talent. But I don't know if he's into the game."