| | CHICAGO -- Playing in the NBA has been Paul McPherson's
dream since he saw his first game on television. He even has the
league's logo tattooed on his left bicep.
Now, the DePaul junior feels it's time to chase his dream.
"Right now, I think it's one of the best opportunities I have
to reach my dream and my goals," he said Thursday, announcing he's
giving up his senior year to enter the NBA draft. "It's the best
time to make my move.
"It's strictly about chasing my dream. ... It's not because of
classes or anything like that," added McPherson, suspended for one
game last month for violating the team's academic policy. "I'm
going to come back and get my degree."
McPherson has the support of coach Pat Kennedy, but said he
didn't talk to anyone in the NBA before making his decision. He's
heard some guesses on where he might go if he's chosen in the June
28 draft, but said he isn't worried about that.
The 6-foot-4 guard, DePaul's third-leading scorer this past season, is likely to be a late-round pick if he's
drafted.
"I think I can base my decision on the things I know I can do
and accomplish on the court," he said. "I realize the things I
have to get accomplished for me to make this dream possible. ...
It's just a matter of me doing what I know I need to do to get
there, and hopefully everything will take care of itself."
He said he
will pursue his degree at DePaul in the offseason.
"I want to thank everyone at DePaul for the special opportunity
I was given by being a part of their program," McPherson said.
"I am very proud to be a part of the DePaul family."
After graduating from Chicago's South Shore High School,
McPherson played at Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College and
Chicago's Kennedy-King Junior College before transferring to
DePaul. He helped Tallahassee to a 33-2 record and third place in
the NJCAA tournament. Kennedy-King finished fourth in the NJCAAs
with McPherson, and he was the tournament's leading scorer.
He averaged 11.2 points, 4.7 points and 1.8 assists for the Blue Demons, who
made their first NCAA appearance since 1992. He also was a
tenacious defender.
He shot a team-best 53 percent (149-of-281) from the field and
started 23 games. DePaul lost to Kansas 81-77 in overtime in
the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
McPherson joins St John's sophomore guard Erick Barkley and
Cincinnati guard DerMarr Johnson, the Conference USA Freshman of
the Year, as big-name underclassmen who have declared for the draft. | |
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