Maybe I should have been a little more patient about getting the Gray post out there. Andy Katz has a full story on Gray, his workout, his decisionmaking and the whole shebang. He echoes the point from Luke Winn about no free lunch possibly reducing the turnout for the workout — who knew NBA folk were such moochers?

“First and foremost, we wanted to protect his eligibility, since he hasn’t decided to stay in the draft or go back to school yet,” said Gray’s father, Mike. “Doing workouts [in NBA cities] was an issue and we wanted to display him to the most NBA people as possible. This turned out to be the best arrangement to minimize the cost and maintain his eligibility.”

Yet, he is, by far, the most anticipated unsigned underclassman still in the draft. If the 7-foot Gray goes back to Pitt, the Panthers will be the Big East preseason favorite, with the only player of note not returning being point guard Carl Krauser. Losing Krauser is a significant hit, since he led them in scoring and was their leader the past three seasons, but Gray is a species that has been nearing extinction in college — the wide-body center who eats up space in the paint and alters the defensive approach for opposing teams.

Gray’s not of the new breed of center, the high-flying shot-blocking type. He comes from the era of immovable plodders who can be a pain to move out of the post once positioned. If Gray (13.9 ppg, 10.5 rpg) returns, the Panthers will feed him on the block probably have plenty of buckets being created for forwards Sam Young and Levon Kendall, who would be freed up by the constant double-teams on Gray.

Gray also would have a chance, possibly for the only time in his career, to be the focal point of his team, which could help his draft status next season. Right now, Gray is projected to be a first-round pick, but no one is guaranteeing him a spot just yet. His impact next season in the NBA likely would be limited.

Given all that, Gray has a tough choice. Should he go for the money and develop for a year or two in the NBA or stay at Pitt and be a cover boy in college for a year?

Coach Dixon agrees that the NBA teams aren’t promising a thing.

Dixon said he has received calls but the teams are keeping their options open. So, too, are the Grays. Where that leaves them is hard to say.

“This all happened so quickly for Aaron, just like it did for Chris Taft last year,” Dixon said of Taft who left after his sophomore season and went No. 42 in the second round to Golden State. “Neither were McDonald’s All-Americans. This is all new to him. He wasn’t heavily recruited. Aaron and his dad said they were going to keep their options open. This is exactly where I thought we’d be at this point. Everyone is still keeping their options open.”

Probably only for Gray and his family, is all of this occurring quickly.

Luke Winn at SI.com has a report on Gray’s workout, and just how torn Aaron Gray seems to be over staying in the draft or going back to Pitt.

It was anticlimactic. A bit of running. A bit of so-so shooting from beyond his college comfort zone. Some awkward 1-on-1 with ex-Oklahoma State stiff Frans Steyn, who was at the camp out of Southwest Baptist University and served as a stand-in opponent. Gray didn’t really hurt himself during the 45-minute stretch; scouts already knew he was a solid, workmanlike 7-footer, not a super-athlete — and that skill set will keep him in a decent position. That said, the crowd dwindled to 19 by the end of the workout, an exodus that could either be regarded as a negative sign or a result of an external factor: The league did not serve lunch. It put out a buffet for those attending the Cedric Simmons/Patrick O’Bryant/Kyle Lowry workout on Wednesday afternoon and approximately 150 scouts stayed.

As the June 18 deadline to pull out of the draft approaches, Gray remains at a crossroads. On one side is the likelihood of late first round and a limited role as an NBA rookie; on the other is the chance to lead Pitt to a top-10 ranking and a Big East title as the conference’s premier returning player. “Every time I make a list of the pros and cons [of turning pro], I think of more stuff,” Gray said after the workout. “One of the things on there … is to come back and be the ‘man’ on campus, on a top-10 team. All the TV networks are waiting on me to make my decision [to see if they want to televise the Panthers]. It’s a real humbling experience.”

While Gray was on the floor, Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon was waiting outside the gym (he was not allowed by the NCAA to watch a still-eligible player work out). Dixon stopped to greet Gray and his father, Mike, when they left, and the coach said that the plan from here on out was simply to “continue to gather information” from NBA folks. That information will have a major effect on the complexion of the Big East in 2006-07.

Gray isn’t even pretending to be unaware of all the external factors. I don’t know if I would call it humbling, though. It must be something of a rush to know people believe you to hold the balance of power in the Big East and ESPN is waiting to find out what you do to decide their programming.

It was asked after an earlier post if Dixon’s involvement is typical of coaches. The best answer I can give, is that it is becoming more common. At least where the kid seems legitimately unsure or is simply seeing what his status is.

A big reason is to make sure the kid doesn’t get his draft eligibility screwed up because of NCAA restrictions and regulations on expenses, working out and advisors. I linked to an article about this last month, focusing on Dixon and Nevada’s Coach Fox working with his star forward, 2 time WAC player of the year, Nick Fazekas. It worked on a couple fronts as Fazekas appears to be pulling out of the draft and returning for his senior year.

I would also suggest that it is important with the unsure kid, because it sends a clear message that the coach does want what’s best for the kid and isn’t trying to replace him as soon as he shows an interest in the pros. If Gray comes back, I think Dixon’s help and assistance will be a big reason. Showing the loyalty actually can run both ways.

UPDATE: No sooner do I get this post out, then Chad Ford at ESPN.com posts on Gray’s workout (Insider subs.).

It’s not the best environment for Gray, and the workout didn’t go well for him. He’s not very athletic and doesn’t show well in drills. While Gray did demonstrate some nice footwork in the paint against Steyn, every scout I spoke to (in lieu of NBA execs, who didn’t show up for the most part) said that Gray needs to return to school.

“He’s still raw and he needs to get more athletic,” one NBA scout said. “He could really use another year of college ball.”

And yet, if he stays, someone would very likely take him in the 1st round.

That disorderly conduct charge WVU B-Ball Coach John Beilein faced from an incident at the Pittsburgh Airport has been settled.

The West Virginia University men’s basketball coach announced Thursday evening that he settled the matter by entering a “no contest” plea and paying a reduced fine.

He had been charged with parking his automobile in a “no-parking” zone at Greater Pittsburgh International Airport while loading bags after a family trip.

An officer with the Allegheny County police department also accused the coach of disorderly conduct.

“I have taken the advice of my attorney who feels this is the best way to conclude this matter and avoid further unnecessary attention to a simple parking issue,” Beilein said in a prepared statement.

“I want to emphasize that this decision is in no way an admission of guilt. I believe that the situation was misrepresented.

“There was obviously a misunderstanding that occurred in my discussion with the officer.”

As I said, it was a glorified parking ticket. It’s just damn funny. Not to mention that Beilein really felt the need to rationalize the whole thing. Especially the part about pulling the “do you know who I am?” card on the cop.

“It is important for me to say that I did not challenge the officer nor did I use my position as basketball coach for any reason other than to exemplify my respect for the officer’s position.

“In the officer’s report, he interpreted it as a lack of respect and, in fact, it was the exact opposite intention I was trying to convey to him.”

Suuuure he did. Protest. Too much. Doth. Methinks.

How did that go? How do you casually work in being the head basketball coach at WVU in the conversation with a cop telling you to move your car? As a way of “conveying” respect?

Carl Krauser has been making his case in Orlando that he should be on an NBA roster. Steve Kyler of Hoopsworld.com/Basketball News Service is now an unabashed fan.

It’s official — Carl Krauser has a bandwagon — and you are reading the leader of it… The more Carl plays, the more he looks like a NBA guard. He’s not a starter –- he is a backup point — but at a solid 6’1, 4 years of college at a major program, and some smart savvy basketball Carl looks like he’d be a value for a team in the 2nd round. A team looking for a backup guard would be smart to look at Carl. He’s not going to score a ton of points, but when its time to sit your lead playmaker, Carl is showing he can handle the job –- he admitted that maybe he’s deferring too much trying too hard to get the “bigs” on his team involved so they will rebound, but says he is doing what his coaches told him to do and he is proving that he can run a team. The Krauser Bandwagon will debut their T-shirts tomorrow (that’s a joke…).

Not quite effusive the next day, but he still likes him for a playoff team.

Carl Krauser looks like he is a 3rd string guard on any team in the playoffs, he has been unspectacular on the floor shooting, but seems to have heart and hustle and a willingness to play defense. He may go late in the 2nd, but next year there’s gonna be a guy coming of the bench for 5 minutes to spell a starter, and Carl could be that guy for a handful of teams.

Reading like coming back for his senior year worked for Carl. Actually the way Kyler waxes effusive about Krauser is what it will take for a team to take a shot on him late in the 2nd round. A scout or GM that falls in love with his intangibles and work ethic to advocate on his belhalf that the club take the flyer on him.

Ohio State football players have been disappointing this season. They just aren’t doing their job to even crack the Fulmer Cup rankings.

Not that there isn’t any shortage of idiots and perverts doing things in tOSU gear continually being caught on film. But it’s not the same. I mean, this is Ohio. There is so much tOSU crap gear being overproduced, that everyone seems to end up with at least one item whether they want to or not. Any T.J. Maxx, Gabriel’s, Wal-Mart, Big Lots and whatever is loaded with highly discounted clearance gear people can buy in bulk. It’s hard for many to resist picking up that $60 Nike hoodie for $10.

Have faith, though, Buckeye basketball seems poised to do what it can. Sure he is only a commit, but we are talking about the future.

City prosecutors will seek felony charges against Ohio State basketball recruit David Lighty, who was arrested Wednesday with two friends after a jogger was shot with a BB-type gun.

Lighty, an 18-year-old All- Ohio guard who graduated from Villa Angela-St. Joseph on Sunday, was held overnight on suspicion of assault, criminal trespassing and criminal activity on school property. Two other 18-year-old teammates — Jimmy McLeod and Darryl Rushton — were held on the same grounds.

…

The incident happened about 9 p.m. Wednesday at VASJ. James Nugent, 55, was jogging on the track when he was hit in the back by a plastic BB. He said Thursday that he heard three men in the south bleachers laughing and one said, “Oh, I hit him.”

“We were goofing around with each other and this man said he got hit,” Lighty said Thursday just after he was released. “And he called the police.

“But everything is going to be all right.”

…

Two patrolmen arrived and saw three men with guns in the bleachers. It was dusk and the officers were unsure if the weapons were BB guns or real guns.

Officers pointed their guns at the three men and told them to drop the weapons.

Lighty and Rushton complied, but McLeod said he didn’t have to drop his, police said. Officers said they shouted at him at least five times before he dropped the gun, which police then saw was a BB-type gun.

Now, understand that in Cleveland, BB guns are considered firearms. Kids “goofing around with each other” with BB guns. Brilliant.

Now think about how stupid these kids are. They not only take potshots at some guy in his 50s with the BB gun, they stay in the bleachers while the guy calls the police, then when the cops show up — and draw their guns — one of them is dumb enough to not drop his gun. The idiots are lucky not to have been shot by an overreacting/nervous cop.

Even if you think the plastic BBs are harmless, how dumb do you have to be just to hang around and wait for the cops to show? You hit the guy. Run, dummies!

“We are aware of the incident,” OSU coach Thad Matta said in a statement released through the school. “In situations like this, we always defer to the law. David is in our family and the university and I will work together on dealing with this matter.”

Everyone was going to be watching Buckeye basketball closely for the talent on the court. Now we know they will be worth watching, period.

Well, Aaron Gray’s workout yesterday hasn’t had much in the way of leaks yet. Just this.

Aaron Gray worked out against Franz Stein who happens to be the only 7-footer in the Orlando predraft camp. NBADraft.net was not at the Gray workout, however scouts I spoke to after the workout gave mixed reviews. Those who said he looked good said his foot work looked solid and foot speed has been one of the big concerns with Gray.

Those that weren’t as positive about the workout felt that he lacked defense and has trouble going to his left. Some scouts feel he should return to school as Gray is not a finished product, but with a premium on bigmen most scouts consider Gray a likely first rounder for this year’s draft.

Gray could go anywhere from 15 to 31 depending on the team, need and reach.

It’s going to be a tough call for Gray. This is a fairly weak draft. The first draft with no high schoolers, and the correction starts next draft with Greg Oden and other freshmen expected to declare in the draft. If Gray comes back and has a slightly better senior season, he still will likely not be very different in the draft expectations. Probably 12-25 range. Sitting on the fringe of potentially being a lottery player.

He and his family have about a week to make the decision.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded annually to the best defensive college football player.

Yesterday they released their watch list — at least to the media. There are 55 players on the list. Both Darrelle Revis and H.B. Blades are on the watch list.