Morris remains in NBA draft as deadline passes

Updated: June 21, 2005, 6:36 PM ET
Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky center Randolph Morris will remain in the NBA draft and not return to play basketball for the Wildcats.

Morris, a freshman last season, declared himself eligible for the draft six weeks ago, notifying Kentucky coach Tubby Smith by fax of his intentions. Morris did not hire an agent, which would have allowed him to return to Kentucky if he chose to withdraw from the June 28 draft.

But the deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from the draft passed at 5 p.m. EDT Tuesday, and Kentucky received no notification from Morris that he planned to return, Athletics Department spokeswoman Mandy Polley said.

Morris spoke of Kentucky in the past tense after a private workout for NBA teams in Chicago earlier this month. Morris has worked out for the Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers.

Morris said in Chicago that he had had no contact with his Kentucky teammates or coaches since entering the draft.

The 6-foot-10, 266-pound Morris chose Kentucky over Georgia Tech after considering a jump straight from high school to the NBA. Morris started 33 of 34 games this past season, averaging 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 19.8 minutes for the Wildcats (28-6).

Morris struggled much of the season with foul trouble -- he led the team with 102 -- but played his best basketball in the NCAA tournament. He had his first career double-double against Cincinnati, finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds in a 69-60 second-round win. In a 94-88 double-overtime loss to Michigan State in a regional final, he scored 20 points.

The McDonald's All-America selection, who attended Landmark Christian School in Atlanta, was part of a ballyhooed Kentucky recruiting class that included two other McDonald's All-Americans, guards Rajon Rondo and Joe Crawford, as well as guard Ramel Bradley.

Morris' primary backups last season were a pair of sophomores, 7-foot Lukasz Obrzut and 7-foot-3 Shagari Alleyne, who combined to average four points and 2.5 rebounds. Kentucky also has signed another center, 7-foot-2 Jared Carter of Georgetown, Ky.

Morris is one of two Kentucky underclassman this year to enter the draft. Junior swingman Kelenna Azubuike announced his plans in April and signed with an agent, Joel Bell, thus ending his college eligibility.


Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press

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