English’s decision Will he stay or will he go?
coming today
The Hawaii junior will announce
whether he'll try for the NBA DraftBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comHawaii basketball player Carl English is expected to end the speculation on whether he will enter the upcoming NBA Draft or return to UH for his senior season at a press conference this afternoon.
The junior from Patrick's Cove, Newfoundland, Canada, has expressed an interest in making himself eligible for the NBA Draft, but declined to discuss his decision publicly during the season.
Even if English enters the draft pool, he could leave the door open to return to UH for his senior season.
College underclassmen can declare themselves eligible for the draft -- set for June 26 in New York -- and consult with NBA scouts and officials about where they might be selected.
But a player can retain his college eligibility by withdrawing his name from draft consideration by the June 19 deadline as long as they haven't hired an agent.
UH coach Riley Wallace said the coaching staff has put out inquiries with NBA teams regarding English following the Rainbows' season-ending loss at Minnesota on March 24. Wallace indicated English might return to UH if he isn't projected to be a first-round pick.
English was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection this season. He averaged 19.6 points and 5.4 rebounds and set a school record with 89 3-point goals. He is sixth on UH's all-time scoring list with 1,259 points.
English, 22, redshirted his first year at UH and is scheduled to graduate this semester with a degree in liberal studies.
The last Hawaii player to be taken in the draft was Reggie Cross, who was selected by Philadelphia in 1989. Predrag Savovic signed a free-agent contract with Denver last year and Anthony Carter made the Miami roster as a free agent in 1998.
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