Say What?

ANDREW Bogut is getting a crash course in the cutthroat world of US sport, with the NBA draft hopeful forced to deny rumours he is going blind.The Australian basketball sensation is coming under increasing scrutiny from the US press ahead of the June 28 draft.

Bogut and former North Carolina forward Marvin Williams are expected to be picked No.1 and No.2 in the draft, held in New York, with NBA clubs Milwaukee and Atlanta holding the first two selections.

Williams, 18, is considered the player with the most potential following one season at Chapel Hill. College player of the year Bogut is viewed as the safest choice after a dominant sophomore season at the University of Utah.

But with only two weeks remaining until he is thrust into the international spotlight, doubts have been raised over Bogut's quickness, his overall potential and even his eyesight.

Former Utah coach Rick Majerus, who enticed Bogut to Salt Lake City and coached him in his first college season, reportedly told NBA executives recently the 213cm centre had a degenerative eye disease.

Bogut denied the accusation as well as any speculation of a rift between himself and Majerus.