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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Amare Stoudemire, considered one of the best high school players in the country, announced Monday he will skip college and enter the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-10 forward from Orlando Cypress Creek H.S. made his announcement at the Bears' basketball banquet.

"This is something that I've been planning," Stoudemire said. "It's a dream come true for me. My family gave me so much help in the decision."

Stoudemire averaged 29.1 points, 15 rebounds and 6.1 blocks per game this season and was named Florida's Mr. Basketball.

He said he has not yet decided on an agent. The NCAA recently changed its eligibility rules so that a high school player could be drafted, then decide to play in college, provided he did not sign with an agent. Stoudemire had indicated he would have been interested in attending Memphis University.

Earlier Monday, Lenny Cooke, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y. who did not play basketball this season because he had run out of high school eligibility, made himself available for the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-6 Cooke, 20, and Stoudemire joined DeAngelo Collins of Inglewood Calif., as high school players who have declared for the draft to be held in June.

Stoudemire and Collins were among the 24 players selected for this year's McDonald's All-America High School Game.

Stoudemire said his goal is to become the first player to go straight from high school to be selected NBA rookie of the year.

"I don't intend on being an average player," Stoudemire said. "I want to be a great player. I want to be an impact player."

Last season, six high school players declared for the draft. Four -- Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry and DeSagana Diop -- were taken among the first eight picks.
This is no surprise; Amare will go top 15.
BTW, now that DeAngelo Collins and Amare Stoudemire have declared we look to the other highschoolers...

Looks like Lenny Cooke will also declare for the draft.

Carmelo Anthony has qualified to play at Syracuse, looks like he will go there next year.

Sani Ibrahm is expected to go to a junior college.
So, anybody know how Diop did in the pros this year? Did he get any game time?

Guest

I agree, but it's hard to go to college when some NBA dimwit waves a few million dollars in your face. It's very hypocritical that they do this, yet are such staunch supporters of the Reading is fundamental program, IMHO.

Oh well.. Life sucks, get a helmet. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" />
Bomber, Diop hardly played at all - appeared in only 18 games, average about 6 minutes. He played the least of any of the Cavs. Of course, his checks were still good.

He did play more than Ousmane Cisse and Tony Key did, however.

What surprises me is Sani Ibrahim going JuCo, if that's how it plays out. He must have serious academic issues.
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> The NBA sucks. If I was a great athelete I'd rather hone my game at a great school like UNC and be big man on campus for a few years. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I agree...of course, I'd rather go to Maryland <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

..this light blue is starting to hurt my eyes...i cant stay on this board too long <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" />
Thanks for the info, ZinfanHeel.

<small>[ May 08, 2002, 02:53 PM: Message edited by: The Bomber ]</small>
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