IN THE SPOTLIGHT: T HURSDAY , A PRIL 2 6 , 2 0 0 7 Simpson: Tennis player talks PAGE about plans for after graduation, changes on the team and the B 1 differences between Wake Forest and Kentucky. Page B2. O N L I N E A T : http://ogb.wfu.edu [email protected] SOLDPORTS GOLD & BLACK Feel a Draft Coming Leaving for NBA early a bad idea By Allison Lange | Asst. sports editor There’s been a long standing debate in college basketball. The decision to go pro in the NBA or stay in college basketball is one that many players face during their college career. The pros and cons are there for both arguments. Choosing to leave college PRESS early and be drafted in the NBA brings the obvious addition of FROM THE FROM BOX many, many zeros to the bank account. However, staying in college has its advantages – many of which college basketball players over- look. There is something to be said for finishing one’s college education, getting a degree and accom- plishing something other than basketball while Photos courtesy of Wake Forest Media Relations at college. Many believe, including me, that college basket- Redshirt junior John Abbate and redshirt seniors Steve Vallos and Josh Gattis are three Deacons expected to go in the NFL Draft. ball has a special passion that cannot be found in the NBA. There’s incredible fan support not found in By Gerard McMahon | Senior writer weigh their all-conference statis- and would have to play outside.Then “Unless someone could promise me the pros, an unbelievable atmosphere and nothing tics over their less-than-prototypi- comes the all-important 40-yard dash if I went back that I’d grow three else in the world like the Big Dance. There are many misconceptions cal NFL size during the NFL draft time – the holy grail of the scouting inches, the decision was pretty easy,” Additionally, there’s the importance of the team in the world, but especially in the April 28-29. combine. Fighting through a strained Abbate said. “With me, I think it’s that is emphasized, rather than the individual at sports world. While at least four players have hamstring, Abbate struggled to post things you can’t measure, such as the NBA level. Offensive linemen are unintelli- a realistic chance at being drafted, a time of five seconds – about four- instincts.” North Carolina’s Brandon Wright, a freshman gent. Lefties love to pull the ball. and another handful should make an tenths of a second slower than pro- “When it comes down to it, I’m during the 2006-’07 season announced April 24 Everything is the coach’s fault. NFL roster as undrafted free agents, jected. Strike two: He’s “too slow” just a football player. No one’s ever that he was declaring for the draft. Along with But one of the biggest misconcep- no athlete has garnered more atten- to play outside. going to outwork me.” Wright, Virginia’s Sean Singletary will declare for tions revolves around professional tion over the last three months as red- Throw in the shoulder, nose, ham- While he may be the most profiled, the NBA draft instead of returning for his senior drafts – that teams actually draft the shirt junior linebacker Jon Abbate. string and ankle injuries through Abbate will not be the only Deacon season. best players. In reality, teams draft “I don’t see any negatives with the which he has played, and the nega- sweating come draft weekend. These are only two of many players who willnever the players that have the “potential” guy,” linebackers coach Brad Lam- tives start to pile up for the first team Safeties Josh Gattis and Patrick be college graduates. to live up to a variety of psychologi- bert said about only the third player All-ACC selection. Ghee both have a high likelihood While I understand the desire to provide for one’s cal tests, measurables and statistics in ACC history to lead his team in “His size has never been an issue of hearing their names called, while family, I believe that the majority of the time, it’s that may have nothing to do with a tackles his first three seasons. for us,” Lambert said. “He made a offensive lineman Steve Vallos and better to stay in college. player’s performance on the field. Unfortunately for Abbate, reports lot of plays for us; I think given the defensive linemen Jyles Tucker and I do acknowledge that there are those few col- Which is why the ACC’s 2006 from scouts indicate they do see nega- right opportunity he will do well in Bryan Andrews could also go late lege super-stars who are so talented that they are Player of the Year, Wake Forest’s tives. the NFL.” in the draft or sign with a team as left with almost no choice but to “take the money Chris Barclay, went undrafted. Although Wake Forest listed him Abbate, for his part, stays firm in undrafted free agents. and run.” And which is why, again this year, at 5-11/245, Abbate measured just his decision to follow his heart and A first team All-ACC selection and However, look at Tim Duncan, one of the best a handful of Demon Deacon seniors 5-9/231 at the NFL combine. Strike play in the NFL while continuing honorable mention All-American, basketball players to come out of Wake Forest. will have to hold their breath as they one: He’s “too small” to shed 300- to make his case to the NFL draft There’s no doubt that Duncan had the option to wait and see which teams decide to pound NFL blockers in the middle “war rooms.” See Football, Page B4 leave the Deacons and go to the NBA early, but he stayed – and set a positive example for others. Duncan showed that it’s possible to be success- ful in the NBA after staying in college for four years. Because Duncan stayed, he went higher in the NBA draft and was able to perfect his game and Baseball continues to struggle in ACC play skills before going pro, along with receiving a won- By Gerard McMahon | Senior writer used three singles, a pair of hit batsmen and a Wake momentarily held a 3-2 lead in the 14th derful education and his degree. fielder’s choice to score three runs and take the inning, but Boston College managed to tie the There’s something to be respected when a college After suffering a frustrating weekend sweep at 5-4 victory. game in the bottom of the inning before pull- player values his education and the ability to learn Boston College to drop their ACC record to 8-13, “Josh Ellis had a tough outing, but if he has one ing it out three innings later off freshman Phil in a positive atmosphere. Money shouldn’t make the Demon Deacons responded with consecutive out of every 10 or 12 outings that’s poor, then I Negus (1-1). decisions for people. victories over No. 22 UNC-Charlotte and Appa- guess he’s doing ok – that’s just something that “We had a lot of opportunities that were lost, Granted, Chris Paul left the Deacs after two years lachian State to improve their record to 24-22 happens every so often, head especially during those extra innings to score the to declare for the NBA draft. on the year. coach Rick Rembielak said. go ahead run,” Rembielak said. And when we It seems now, two years later, that Paul made the “We’re looking to first win the series and then “It was a tough way to lose for did (score), (Boston College) came back a couple correct decision for himself. Paul now has a NBA go for the sweep at BC,” freshman designated everyone, but its just one of of times and it seemed as if both offenses were Rookie of the Year award and a very successful hitter Michael Murray had said heading into the those games in baseball that clicking at the same time and faltering at the same two seasons with the New Orleans Hornets under series. happens every so often.” time throughout the entire game.” his belt. With .500 in the ACC in their sights heading The Deacons’ pitching With the Eagles holding the momentum head- While I understand the pros for leaving early, I into the weekend, Wake Forest lost a 4-2 lead in bounced back in the second ing into the final game of the series April 22, the believe the cons heavily outweigh them. the ninth inning in a heartbreaking 5-4 loss in game of the series, a mara- Deacons immediately jumped out to a 3-0 first Just look at what happened to the Deacs the year the series opener April 20. It was just a sign of thon 17-inning affair that inning lead on a pair of walks followed by a wild after Paul left. things to come in the weekend. Rembielak Boston College pulled out pitch and three singles. They went from a No. 2 seed in the Big Dance to Junior Ben Terry’s first Wake Forest home run, a with an RBI double in the But after a pair of Boston College runs in the not making the NCAA Tournament at all – argu- two-run blast in the third inning, gave the Deacs bottom of the 17th inning. The game marked the second inning and four more in the third gave the ably because Chris Paul left early.