[Herald-Leader]Undrafted Chuck Hayes has been offered a contract with Rockets

Chuck Hayes averaged 10.9 points per game, but his intangibles are more impressive than his offense.




http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/colleges/university_of_kentucky/12020122.htm

Posted on Thu, Jun. 30, 2005



Morris may return to Cats

If center doesn't have agent, he might be allowed back

By Jerry Tipton

HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER


It's possible center Randolph Morris could return to Kentucky next season. But like his basketball future in general, his return to the Cats remained in limbo as of last night.

Morris, who surprised many observers by keeping his name in this year's NBA Draft, was not among the 60 players selected Tuesday night.

That seemed to put a sad punctuation on a one-season college career long on potential but short on production. He seemed a player without a team.

However, UK's compliance officer, Sandy Bell, confirmed yesterday that an NCAA rule permits a player in Morris' position to resume a college career. The rule allows a player to enter a professional draft one time, then return to a college career providing the player was not drafted and had not signed with an agent. The player must then notify his athletic director of the wish to return within 30 days of the draft, Bell said.

As of last night, UK had not heard from Morris. That continued a puzzling pattern. UK had not communicated with Morris since early May, when he faxed the basketball office a notice of his intention to enter the draft, Assistant Athletic Director Scott Stricklin said.

"Sporadic conversations" with Morris' parents ended about 10 days ago, Stricklin said. Morris' parents have known for more than a month of their son's chance to return to Kentucky even if he stayed in the draft, Bell said.

She said she told the parents of the rule in mid-May.

Whether Morris has signed with an agent remained unclear.

When Morris decided to stay in this year's draft, the June 21 announcement was made by SFX, a sports agency included on a list of agents compiled by the NBA Players Association.

Morris' relationship with SFX would "have to be investigated" if he wanted to return to Kentucky, Bell said.

Bell also said Morris or his family would have to pay back NBA teams for any expenses incurred in pre-draft workouts for the pros. She added that because Morris' father, Ralph, worked for Delta Air Lines, the family could fly free to workouts. But there were also expenses for hotels, meals and ground transportation.

"I think we're fine with Chicago," Bell said of Morris' trip to the NBA Pre-Draft Camp. "Private workouts are a complicating factor.

"I encouraged them not to take any expenses (from NBA teams). I'm not saying that absolutely they didn't. But they were informed."

Even with repayment, affected players are subject to game suspensions. The NCAA gave Mississippi State forward Lawrence Roberts a one-game suspension last season even after he paid back the Portland Trail Blazers for expenses associated with a workout.

When asked whether he would welcome Morris back, UK Coach Tubby Smith said, "We're pulling for him. We love him to death. Whatever we can do for him, we'll do."

Another UK early entrant, Kelenna Azubuike, went undrafted Tuesday night. Also, Chuck Hayes didn't get drafted after playing his senior season for the Cats.

Hayes' agent said the player has been offered a free-agent contract with the Houston Rockets and will report July 8. Houston had Hayes in for pre-draft workouts more than once.

Azubuike was supposed to leave for Cleveland as soon as today to prepare to play for the Cavaliers' team in a summer league.

 

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/colleges/university_of_kentucky/12010348.htm

Posted on Wed, Jun. 29, 2005

Ex-Kentucky players overlooked in draft

By Jerry Tipton

HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER


In noting players who mistakenly forfeited their remaining college eligibility to enter last night's NBA Draft, basketball commentator Dick Vitale mentioned two former Kentucky players first.

"Who's advising these kids?" Vitale said as ESPN's telecast of the draft moved deep into the second and final round. "Randolph Morris. Kelenna Azubuike. ... They're going to be basketball vagabonds. They're listening to the wrong people."

Neither Morris nor Azubuike was selected in the 60-pick draft. NBA teams also passed over Chuck Hayes, the senior leader of Kentucky's team this past season and a foundational four-year player that UK billed as the college game's winningest performer.

None of the players could be reached for comment.

But people close to Hayes and Azubuike suggested the players will play in the NBA someday.

Gary Porter, who coached Hayes at Modesto (Calif.) Christian, said, "There's definitely a place for him."

Porter noted Hayes' perseverance and determination.

"He'll will himself to play (in the NBA)," Porter said. "It's not like him to quit. He's not a quitter."

Porter acknowledged no surprise in NBA teams bypassing Hayes.

"I think he's going to end up with somebody, probably as a free agent," Porter said. "That's what we've been thinking all along."

Hayes, who chose to watch the draft alone at his Modesto home rather than attend a larger gathering planned in his honor, sounded philosophical before the draft about his status.

"I hear I have some supporters," he said in a quiet voice. "I hear I have some doubters. That's been my whole career. Nothing new."

Azubuike's agent, Joel Bell, said an injury derailed his client's chances of being drafted.

"He was going great until he pulled a groin," the agent said of Azubuike's pre-draft workouts for NBA teams.

The injury caused Azubuike to miss the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Chicago and removed him from individual team workouts for about three weeks, Bell said.

"He's a NBA player," the agent said of Azubuike's long-term basketball future. "Everybody who saw him in workouts knows he's a NBA player."

Chris Ekstrand, a NBA consultant and former editor of the league's official draft guide, had been less impressed with Azubuike's workouts. Azubuike had not distinguished himself from other prospects, Ekstrand said earlier this week.

"This is the time of year you have to separate yourself," Ekstrand said.

Morris' decision to enter the NBA Draft after one season for Kentucky sparked much debate. A high school All-American, he averaged 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds as a UK freshman.

Morris, Azubuike and Hayes were not alone in failing to make a splash in the draft. Only one player from the Southeastern Conference was taken in the first round. The New York Knicks took David Lee of Florida with the final pick of the round.

Reigning SEC Player of the Year Brandon Bass of Louisiana State was taken by New Orleans with the third pick of the second round. Former Mississippi State forward Lawrence Roberts went to Seattle with the 44th pick, then had his rights traded to Memphis. Such familiar SEC players as Alabama's Kennedy Winston and Florida's Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh were not drafted.

Former Louisville standout Francisco Garcia was selected in the first round by the Kings.

 

Posted on Tue, Jun. 28, 2005





UK's Hayes 'on my toes' awaiting draft

FOUR-YEAR PLAYER WILL LOW-KEY IT TONIGHT, WATCHING TELECAST ALONE

By Jerry Tipton

HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER


A telephone call interrupted Chuck Hayes' breakfast yesterday.

"Just having a bowl of cereal," he said.

Hayes, the four-season standout for Kentucky basketball, didn't say if he was munching on the Breakfast of Champions. He didn't have to say that he'd gladly settle for the porridge of an NBA Draft pick.

More than anything, Hayes expressed relief that the NBA will conduct its annual draft tonight. After four college seasons, plus the nerve-wracking three-month period of tryout camps and invitation-only workouts for teams, he moves past the now too-familiar assessments ('tweener size and horrible hitch in his shot) and gazes with some certainty at his basketball future.

"I can't wait," he said with more weariness than giddiness. "I just want to get tomorrow over and done with."

It's decision time for Hayes and two other UK starters from this past season: guard Kelenna Azubuike and, most dramatically, big man Randolph Morris.

By and large, NBA observers do not expect Hayes nor Azubuike to be taken in the two-round, 60-pick draft. Perhaps girding for disappointment, Hayes turned down an invitation to watch the draft with friends and extended family. He preferred to hunker down alone at his Modesto, Calif., home at draft time.

By contrast, Morris, who many think prematurely injected himself into NBA Draft war rooms after modest impact as a freshman, might be taken late in the first round. Or in the second round. Then again, he might not be drafted, according to draftniks who seem to be guessing this year more than usual.

"My personal opinion is Morris will not be a first-round pick," said Chris Ekstrand, an NBA consultant and former editor of the league's official Draft Guide.

Point guards and swingmen have made more solid impressions on NBA teams, Ekstrand said. Morris, who averaged 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds for Kentucky last season, remains an enigma. He could be the type of player who would have improved steadily and become all-conference and All-American as his college career evolved. Or he could be the highly touted high school prospect whose early celebrity would have stunted his development.

"We'll never know which one of those he was going to be," Ekstrand said of Morris.

Ekstrand noted how Wake Forest point guard Chris Paul said that heart and desire can overcome any perceived shortcoming.

"Morris is an unknown in that area," the consultant said.

Work ethic remains another puzzle. As was the case when he came to UK, Morris leaves with a reputation as an inconsistent, if not indifferent, player.

Yet, as Ekstrand noted, "Some people thought Karl Malone was lazy. He turned out to be one of the hardest-working players in NBA history.

"Guys mature. Guys change."

Hayes is anything but unknown to NBA teams. Hard-working. Exceedingly coachable. Mr. Intangible. Alas, undersized as a forward-center (the NBA measured his height at 6-foot-51/2). Almost inept as a face-the-basket scorer.

Hayes worked out for the Knicks and the Rockets. Houston had Hayes return for a second workout last weekend. "Honestly, I'm just on my toes right now," Hayes said of his pre-draft anxiety. "I really am."

 

seems like Head and Hayes know each other for an while, JVG takes whoever knicks wants!!!!!

 

http://www.amnews.com/public_html/?module=displaystory&story_id=14519&format=html

Tuesday June 28, 2005

Vaught's Views: A look at the NBA draft

By LARRY VAUGHT
Sports Editor

As the countdown to tonight's NBA draft approaches, a few random thoughts on what fans in the Bluegrass are continuing to ponder.


* Randolph Morris.


Did he make a mistake leaving Kentucky after a good, but not spectacular, freshman season? The guess here is yes.


While Morris continues to believe he's going to be a first-round pick - and the guess here is that at least one team has assured him and his parents that he will be picked that high - it's not likely to happen. NBADraft.net has Morris going to the Los Angeles Lakers with the 37th overall pick, the seventh choice in round two, in its mock draft.


Granted, mock drafts are not always accurate, but it's just hard to find a way to project Morris in the first round when NBA scouts have questions about his rebounding and work ethic. The second round looks like the right place for him and means no guaranteed money or roster spot and a lot of second thoughts about not coming back to UK.


* Kelenna Azubuike.


If Morris made a mistake, Azubuike may have made a bigger one by leaving after his junior season. He's not projected to go in the first two rounds, an indication that NBA scouts worry that he can't produce his own shot. He certainly will have a chance to make a roster as a free agent or go overseas and play. But another year at Kentucky could have done the same for his draft status as coming back for a fourth year did for Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogans.


* Francisco Garcia.


One player who didn't make a mistake by leaving early for the NBA is Garcia. He may not go in the upper half of the first round, but there's no doubt he'll be picked in round one and become an instant millionaire with a guaranteed contract. The 6-7 Garcia had the blessings of Louisville coach Rick Pitino to leave school and take care of his family. Pitino's NBA connections and Garcia's versatility make him a lock to go in the last third of round one.


* Chuck Hayes and Ellis Myles.


The two undersized power forwards won't be drafted, but both could end up on a NBA roster because they will rebound, play defense and get physical. Both have impressed NBA scouts with their all-around play just as they did Kentucky and Louisville fans during their collegiate careers. Look for both to have a lot of free agent offers soon after the draft ends.


* Rex Chapman.


No, the former UK star is not draft eligible again. But he's going to have a big say in the success new Minnesota coach Dwane Casey, a former UK player and assistant coach, has.


The Timberwolves hired Chapman, the director of basketball operations at Phoenix until he resigned June 15, as a consultant for tonight's draft. Since Minnesota has only two picks, it's unlikely the Timberwolves hired Chapman to work just one week. Instead, odds are he'll end up in the front office and involved in the team's day-to-day operations.


Chapman played at Kentucky under Casey and now he's likely going to have a chance to help his former coach turn around a franchise that may need only minor tweaking to climb back into playoff contention.

Copyright The Advocate-Messenger 2005