|
Tuesday, June 4
Updated: Friday, June 7, 2:15 PM ET
Stanford's Jacobsen mulling draft options
ESPN.com
Stanford junior Casey Jacobsen said Wednesday that he hasn't made up his mind about staying in the NBA draft, despite sources in the NBA and close to Jacobsen saying Tuesday that he's not expected to withdraw by the June 19 deadline.
"That's not true at all," Jacobsen said Wednesday. "That's pure speculation."
|
 |
|
|
I've loved, admired and respected Stanford's Casey Jacobsen. Jacobsen declared for the NBA draft, but he isn't a lock to go in the magical first round and has not withdrawn yet. He has not hired an agent and did not participate in the Chicago draft camp.
Casey, please come back to school! Rather than being a late first-rounder or maybe an early second-rounder, you can hone your skills further, improve your stock and enjoy your final year of college.
Jacobsen will certainly make someone's NBA team. He will be valuable because he can stroke the long-range jumper. But imagine what he could do with another year of college! More...
|
|
|
Jacobsen also said he has no assurances as to where he'd be picked. Sources have confirmed that he's been told by several teams that he will be a mid- to late first-round selection.
"If that were the case, then I wouldn't be as nervous as I am now," Jacobsen said. "If that were the case then I wouldn't be doing all these other workouts. I'm only halfway through the battle."
Jacobsen already has worked out for seven teams -- the Warriors, Lakers, Raptors, Suns, Clippers, Grizzlies and Pistons -- and is scheduled to work out for six more -- Nets, Nuggets, Kings, Pacers, Hawks and Jazz -- before the June 26 draft.
The league instituted a black-out rule prohibiting private workouts during the first part of June to encourage more draft candidates to participate in the league's pre-draft camp at Chicago's Moody Bible Institute. The camp began on Wednesday -- a day later than scheduled.
Jacobsen originally planned to attend, but pulled out. He didn't want to risk being ineligible for the first three games of next season at Stanford if he returns to school. The NCAA is enforcing a rule that will suspend players for that length of time if they participate in a pre-draft camp but pull their names from the draft.
According to sources, the Jazz are among those teams who will look at Jacobsen privately after the Chicago camp is over, but Jacobsen supposedly already has received assurances they'd take him with the 19th pick if he's available. The Suns also have indicated they would select him with the 22nd pick if they get the chance.
Other scouts have told ESPN.com that Jacobsen is on the bubble for the first round. However, Chris Marcus of Western Kentucky has withdrawn his name from the draft, opening up a potential first-round spot. And Jacobsen's Stanford teammate, Curtis Borchardt, also could still pull his name. Borchardt is another potential first-round selection, but he's only worked out for the Heat thus far. He has workouts scheduled with Memphis and the Clippers following the Chicago camp.
Jacobsen, a 6-foot-6 junior, is projected as a swingman in the mold of the Timberwolves' Wally Szczerbiak, with similar strengths and weaknesses -- great shooting touch, solid fundamentals, questionable athleticism. Jacobsen played with Lakers forward Mark Madsen at Stanford as a freshman, and Madsen contends Casey's athleticism is underrated.
"He can run forever and he's a lot more agile laterally than people think," Madsen said. "He'll fight over any screen."
Jacobsen has not hired an agent, so he could return to Stanford if he chooses to do so.
Information from ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher and ESPN.com's Andy Katz are included in this report.
|
|
|
|
