| | By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
Karim Shabazz will return to Providence for his senior season and
pull his name out of the NBA draft by Wednesday's deadline, a source close
to Shabazz said Sunday.
The 7-foot, 2-inch Shabazz is expected to notify the NBA Monday or Tuesday. Shabazz, who has already told Providence coach Tim Welsh that
he will return for his senior season, didn't fare well at the
Chicago pre-draft camp last week and hasn't heard much buzz
about his position in the draft.
Shabazz averaged 10.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in 21 games with the
Friars last season. He transferred to Providence after 1½ years at Florida
State.
Shabazz becomes the fourth early entry candidate to withdraw from
the draft. Cincinnati freshman point Kenny Satterfield, Georgia sophomore
guard D.A. Layne and UCLA freshman forward Jason Kapono have also withdrawn.
SMU junior point Jeryl Sasser is the last likely player to withdraw. But SMU coach Mike Dement said Sunday that Sasser has a
workout with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. Sasser has worked out with Philadelphia and
may squeeze in a workout with Boston before making his decision Wednesday.
The NBA's deadline for withdrawing is 5 p.m. ET Wednesday. The
NBA draft will be held June 28 in Minneapolis.
Andy Katz is an ESPN.com senior writer. | |
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