Marion headed for NBA

Steve Carp

Thursday, April 22, 1999 | 10:56 a.m.

He always had the right to change his mind, and apparently Shawn Marion is going to exercise that right.

UNLV's top player is expected to announce Friday that he is turning pro and will submit his name for the 1999 NBA Draft to be held June 30 in Washington.

Reached at home Wednesday, Marion said he was going to hold a press conference Friday afternoon to make his decision public. He didn't want to confirm that he was leaving at this point.

"I've talked to a lot of people and I'm going to announce what I'm going to do Friday," he said.

Last month, Marion told reporters he intended to stay in school. But after checking with several NBA teams and player personnel directors in the last couple of weeks, Marion learned that his stock remained high, and that he was a potential lottery (top 13) pick if he came out this year for what is considered to be a very weak class.

Apparently, that updated information has swayed Marion's thinking and prompted him to change his mind. Two sources close to the basketball program confirmed that Marion told them that he intended to go pro.

Coach Bill Bayno wouldn't confirm Marion is leaving. Bayno did say Marion and he had talked and that Marion was leaning toward leaving.

"It's looking that way," Bayno said. "His decision has always been based on where he's going to go in the draft. He's getting a strong indication that he's a lottery pick.

"If that's true, he has to go (pro)."

The 6-foot-7 junior, who had been a star at Vincennes (Ind.) University prior to his arrival at UNLV, led the Rebels in scoring (18.7), rebounding (9.3), blocked shots (54), free-throw percentage (.730) and steals (73). His career-high came against Texas Christian Feb. 22 when he poured in 34 points. He scored 20 or more points 11 times.

Marion was a first-team WAC all-Mountain Division selection and also was on the league's all-Newcomer and all-Defensive teams. Had he returned, he would have been a preseason All-America candidate. He also was looking at an invitation from USA Basketball to represent the United States in this summer's Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Canada.

But that will all be rendered moot, as Marion has been projected anywhere from as high as a No. 8 pick overall to as low as the mid-20s by various NBA scouts.

With the new collective bargaining agreement capping all salaries, where he is drafted will determine how much he makes in his first three years as a pro.

"I think he can taste the money and he can taste the NBA," Bayno said. "He and I talked the other day and I want what's best for him and his family. Hopefully, he'll go between eight and 13."

However, should Marion learn before the draft that he is not lottery material, he does have the right to change his mind again. The NCAA will allow him to pull his name out of the draft up until the week before, provided he hasn't aligned with an agent.

TCU's Lee Nailon did just that last year, opting not to go pro and returning to play his senior year for Billy Tubbs.

Word is Marion has not yet selected an agent and he may wait until after the draft to do so. In addition, he has not dropped out of school and continues to attend classes.

Bayno said whichever NBA team selects Marion will be very fortunate.

"One thing about Shawn is he's as good a kid as there is in the draft," he said, discussing Marion's character. "And he's as hard a worker as there is too."

Bayno said the NCAA's pending investigation of the UNLV program was not a factor in Marion's decision. The NCAA does want to talk to Marion about his recruitment as part of its probe.

"He said it didn't have any bearing on his decision," Bayno said. "I think Shawn sees a good opportunity to help himself and his family and he wants to take advantage of it."

Marion's imminent departure means someone, either already on board or being recruited, is going to get a chance to play major minutes. Junior-to-be Donovan Stewart would likely be given a chance to fill Marion's spot, as would sophomore Chris Richardson.

As for the recruits, if Lou Kelly does follow through on his verbal commitment to the Rebels and sign his national letter of intent, he would get a full shot at the small forward spot. Ditto Jason Kapono, the 6-8 forward from Artesia High School in Lakewood, Calif., who still has UNLV on his short list.

And former Bishop Gorman star Jim Roban, who played at Dixie College in nearby St. George, Utah, would get a shot as well if he committed to the Rebels. The 6-5 Roban averaged just under 19 points a game playing the small forward spot and was supposed to take an official visit to UNLV Wednesday. But Roban had just returned to Utah from a visit to San Diego State and it appears his UNLV visit will have to be rescheduled.

"It certainly helps the guys we're recruiting at his position," Bayno said of the impact Marion's leaving is having on recruiting.

Marion said back in March that things could change if the circumstances warranted it. Apparently, they have.