Freshman forward Marcus Williams is “”heavily, heavily considering”” declaring for the NBA Draft, according to men’s basketball assistant coach Josh Pastner. Williams, who averaged 13 points per game and was named to the All-Pacific 10 Conference Freshman team, has been considering signing with an agent in the past few days. He has said that he would only declare if he was serious about leaving.
“”I think in the last few days, he’s just had a change of thought,”” Pastner said. “”He’s strongly considering it more.””
Williams will have until Saturday to make his decision. On April 6, Williams said he would make his decision in two and a half weeks.
“”We want him back, but on the other hand, we’re gonna support whatever he decides to do,”” Pastner said.
Pastner said Williams could go anywhere from 15-30 but would likely be a “”top-20″” pick if he was to enter. NBADraft.net currently has Williams going 12th in the 2007 draft.
Wildcats cancel European trip, opt for Canada instead
Arizona’s “”Euro trip”” has been canceled and the Wildcats will instead travel to Vancouver, Canada, for three days during Labor Day weekend.
Junior point guard Mustafa Shakur, Williams and sophomore guard Jawann McClellan were all unlikely to play in Europe.
“”Unfortunately, we’ve had to cancel the European trip,”” Olson said in a statement released last night. “”With Jawann still rehabilitating and the uncertain circumstances surrounding Mustafa and Marcus and the NBA Draft, we just wouldn’t have had enough players to make the trip and remain competitive.ÿIn fairness to the trip organizers, we felt like we had to make this decision now.””
Because the Canadian trip won’t take place until Sept. 2-4, McClellan will likely be able to suit up and each member of the trio of Arizona freshmen (Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill and Nic Wise) will be eligible to play. Arizona has tentatively scheduled two games for Saturday, two games for Sunday and one for Monday.
The Wildcats were scheduled to leave May 21 for London on a two-week journey that would have taken them to Italy, France, Spain, and Serbia and Montenegro. They were to return on June 4.
