[JOURNAL STAR]The agent's convinced; Now it's up to the NBA

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The agent's convinced; Now it's up to the NBA

Illini senior Head makes strong case for being a first-round selection

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Tuesday, June 28, 2005

BY JOE SPENCER

OF THE JOURNAL STAR

Expect an NBA team to make Luther Head a first-round selection in tonight's draft at New York, according to the former Illinois All-American's Chicago-based agent Mark Bartelstein.
"There's no doubt in my mind he's a first-round pick," said Bartelstein, whose firm, Priority Sports and Entertainment, negotiated $190 million in NBA contracts last year and has a client list which includes former Fighting Illini Brian Cook and Deon Thomas.

"He's had great individual workouts for teams before and after being one of the most impressive guys at the pre-draft camp in Chicago. The season he had at Illinois, his workouts, his performance this summer, he's proven he deserves to be there and most of the time when that happens the guy goes in the first round."

Though the impact of Bartelstein's claims are tempered because he represents Head, online sources are lending some support to the matter.

ESPN contributor Chad Ford ranks Head as the sixth-best point guard in the draft and forecasts his draft range from picks 17 to 31. A handful of other mock drafts also have placed Head in the first round.

All first-round selections receive guaranteed contracts, while second-round choices must first play their way onto an NBA roster.

"He's seen and worked out with everybody from No. 12 on up," Bartelstein said.

Indiana (No.17), Boston (No. 18), Memphis (No. 19), San Antonio (No. 28) and Miami (No. 29) all recently have contacted Bartelstein.

"You never know for sure," Bartelstein said. "There's a lot of dominos falling in this draft with trades. It's expected to be a very active first round. But we are confident he will be in the first round.

"But the uncertainty of the draft isn't frustrating, it's just business."

Head was named a second-team All-American by The Associated Press this winter after leading the Illini in scoring (15.9 ppg), gaining a reputation as the team's best defender and hitting the third-highest number of 3s (116) in a single season in Big Ten Conference history.

Regarded as a mid-second round talent after Illinois' run as the national runner-up, the 6-foot-3 Chicago Manley product's draft stock has risen steadily after one of the most impressive summers turned in by an NBA prospect.

Head finished as the second-leading scorer (43 points) during a series of scrimmage games for draft hopefuls in early June at Chicago's Moody Bible Institute.

He also graded as the seventh-best overall prospect and top guard at the Chicago combine's battery of drills, which measures strength (bench press repetitions of 185 pounds), vertical leaping ability, lane agility (how fast a player moves laterally around the key) and speed (a three-quarters-court sprint).

Head's athleticism stood out with his fourth-best vertical leap (381/2 inches), strength (14 reps at 185) and the seventh-fastest sprint mark (3.21 seconds).

But Bartelstein said Head's versatility helped him hurdle his biggest stumbling block.

"NBA scouts wanted to see that he could play the point," Bartelstein said of Head, who moved over from that position to the wing when he left high school.

"He showed everybody he can play either guard spot this summer. He's one of the few guys in this draft that can help a team out in the backcourt by playing both the 1 and 2."

Head has drawn raves this summer for his impact on both sides of the floor. Illinois' ninth-best thief all-time (158 steals) has impressed with his ability to wreak havoc in the open court, creating a turnover and showcasing an ability to knock down 3-pointers in transition.

"I don't care where I go," Head said at the pre-draft camp. "I am just going to show teams how hard I work and the intensity I play with and everything else will take care of itself."

There is a possibility Head could be reunited with former Illinois teammate Deron Williams. Needing backcourt help in the wake of John Stockton's retirement, the Jazz (No. 6) are reportedly interested in trading picks with Portland to select Williams at No. 3. Utah has also expressed interest in Head with its No. 27 choice.



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