That seems to be the general consensus. I’ve been saying that for quite a while, but in light of Krauser’s official declaration, and the fact that he must actually get invited to Chicago to even have a chance:
Krauser acknowledged he’s got a lot of work to do as the draft approaches. Asked what he needs to work on the most, he said without hesitation: “Everything.”
NBA scouts, prohibited from discussing underclassmen publicly, nonetheless have projected Krauser no higher than a second-round draft pick.
“He will be considered for Chicago, but it all depends on the guys they want to see,” said Ryan Blake, assistant director of NBA scouting. “There will be a number of college senior points and international guys there.”
It will be deep in PGs.
Krauser dreams of the 1st, but is realistic enough to know that if he would get picked in the 2nd round he’d probably take it.
[NBA vice president Stu] Jackson and other NBA scouts have told Krauser that he must work his way into being a second-round selection.
“The second round could be good enough,” Krauser said. “But at the same time, if I come back and me and my teammates have a good season, then I could come out in the first round next year. That would be a no-brainer.”
So naturally, there are columns on the decision. Again, everyone thinks he will return.
For now, he’s enamored with the NBA, and his thoughts are mostly of pre-draft camps and testing his mettle against other would-be professionals and where the game he has a passion to play might take him. Dreaming that dream has helped get Krauser this far in the first place, and there’s nothing wrong with exploring all possibilities toward making it come true.
But if Krauser is realistic he’ll understand in advance of June 21, the date by which he must withdrawal his name from consideration to maintain his eligibility, that now is not the time.
Some hedge a little more.
“Can’t and quit aren’t in my vocabulary,” Krauser said. “I prefer to believe I can and I will.”
Maybe you’re willing to bet against Krauser.
Not me.
Krauser showed too much at Pitt, even before he came to Pitt. He was set to play at Hofstra but couldn’t qualify academically. Even after prep school, he had to sit out his first year at Pitt as a partial qualifier.
That sort of academic path gets a kid labeled “stupid.” Do you know how heavy that burden is? Krauser shrugged it off. He didn’t just make it at Pitt after being told by so many that he wouldn’t last in college. He said he’s on schedule to graduate this spring with a degree in legal studies and even mentioned law school as a possibility after basketball.
That’s a long way from stupid.
Having been through law school, let me just say, “Stupid is not that far.”
