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Matthew Kredell broke into the Daily News in 1998, working part time
at the paper while going to USC. The basketball team’s Elite Eight
run in 2000-01 was USC’s athletic highlight in his time at the
school, when the football team was stuck in the Paul Hackett-era.
After graduating in 2001, he started writing for the Daily News full
time. He’s in his second year covering USC, which coincides with the
rise of the program. He’ll take credit for the success, though Tim
Floyd may have more to do with it. A third-generation Los Angelean,
he grew up reading the Daily News while at El Camino Real High School
in Woodland Hills.
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``I'm looking to hear I'll be a first-round pick, because of the guaranteed money. If it's not looking like I'll be a first-round pick, I'll obviously stay in school. If it is, I'll have to look over my options.''
``It was tough, but I talked to my parents and felt this was the right decision. They told me why not go for it, weigh my options and play it out, see what happens.''
Gabe Pruitt has made it official that he will declare for the NBA draft but not hire an agent, leaving it open for him to pull out by June 18, 10 days before the draft, and return for his senior year at USC. Pruitt will not be giving a press conference the way Nick Young did, but I should have more from him shortly.
``We tried everything to convince him to stay,’’ sophomore forward Keith Wilkinson said. ``We tried to sell him on the basketball, the friends, the girls. We took him out to Santa Monica to the Promenade and threw a couple parties in the apartment just for him. But he had his mind set on it. I think he’s going to be a great NBA player.’’
Taj Gibson said he gave consideration to declaring for the NBA draft but had a long talk with coach Tim Floyd and decided it was best for him to return to USC.
``I could have went for the draft and the money but I want to make sure I'm a complete player and that I'll be high up on the draft board,'' Gibson said. ``I'm not yet the type of player I want to be. I want to be one of the best. I'm just worrying about getting stronger and perfecting my game.''
Gabe Pruitt said there is no reason for him not to test the waters and declare for the NBA draft, leaving the possibility to return to USC by not hiring an agent, but that he still wants to think it over and talk with his family more before making that announcement. That he is putting that much thought into a reversible decision seems like good news for USC. Pruitt said he's in no hurry to make an announcement before the April 29 deadline. He said Nick Young going pro has no impact on his decision. Though he would like to provide for his family, he said there isn't a pressing need to do so right away. He has noticed that there seems to be fewer point guards in this draft than there will be next year, and that is weighing on his thinking. Pruitt separately had long one-on-one talks with assistant coaches Phil Johnson and Bob Cantu after Young's press conference.
Nick Young announced his decision to declare for the NBA draft in a press conference at Heritage Hall. He had his parents Mae and Charles by his side, and said the opportunity to provide for his family was his main reason for leaving USC. He said he would hire an agent, which would make his decision final. He's down to three possible agents and will probably make a hire next week. Most of the USC team was in attendance, including Gabe Pruitt and Taj Gibson. Coach Tim Floyd was away on a recruiting trip.
Nick Young's announcement that he will enter the NBA draft will happen Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Heritage Hall. Gabe Pruitt is not scheduled to make his announcement at that time. Pruitt has told the Daily News he is leaning toward declaring for the NBA draft to test the waters but not hiring an agent so that he can have the option of returning for his senior year. Young is planning to hire an agent.
Leading scorer Nick Young will forego his senior season at USC and declare for the NBA draft, according to sources.
The small forward, who prepped at Cleveland High of Reseda, plans to make his official announcement on campus early next week.
Young has yet to hire an agent but will do so soon, according to one source who is close to the player.
The junior’s stock rose during the NCAA Tournament last month, when he led the team in scoring in victories over Arkansas and Texas before the surprising Trojans fell to top-seeded North Carolina.
In the weeks following the season, NBA personnel have indicated to Young that he would go between picks 10 and 25 in the first round depending on workouts, according to sources.
Young said earlier in the year that he would most likely leave for the NBA if told he would be a first rounder.
He’s giving up the possibility to play alongside top recruit O.J. Mayo on a team that has been projected to start next season in the top-10 by multiple publications.
``You never know if his stock will be this high again,’’ said one source involved in the decision. ``Anything can happen next year.’’
Young overcame a slow start last season to lead the Trojans with a career-high 17.5 points per game. He hit the game-tying shot at the end of regulation of an overtime victory over Stanford in the Pac-10 Tournament and the game-winner against previously undefeated Oregon in January.
The 6-foot-6 athletic forward scored in double figures each of the final 25 games, showing a widening display of offensive moves that could create space for a shot any time at the college level.
Young led USC in scoring as a sophomore as well with 17.3 points. He ranks sixth on the school’s all-time list in points scored with 1,486, making the all-conference first team each of his final two seasons.
Young overcame numerous obstacles to be on the verge of reaching his dream. His oldest brother Charles Jr. was murdered when he was five years old.
He flunked out of Hamilton High as a freshman. After transferring to Dorsey, he found himself sharing classrooms with members of the Blood gang that killed his brother. He stopped going to class and flunked out again.
Derrick Cooper, an AAU traveling team coach, helped Young get to Cleveland, where he thrived under the coaching of Andre Chevalier and the close watch of principal Al Weiner.
Because he flunked out at his first two high schools, Young needed a fifth year to earn his degree. With Cleveland’s support, he was granted an extra year on his third appeal.
It wasn’t until graduation day that Young found out he had received a qualifying score on the SAT, clearing the way for him to attend USC.
Added note: Young's camp says he will announce Tuesday at 3 p.m., but a USC representative couldn't confirm that time.
Young is likely to make his announcement next week. The indication he has received from NBA personnel is that, if he declares, his range in the draft would be between picks 10 and 25 in the first round depending on how he does in workouts.
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