GamecockCentral.com - Downey: Not Leaning One Way Or Other

June 10, 2009

David Cloninger
GamecockCentral.com Staff Writer

South Carolina point guard Devan Downey is undecided about his future plans and is not "strongly considering" a move one way or another, despite published reports to the contrary.

On Wednesday, a member of Downey's family flatly said, "There has been no decision made. Period. He is not leaning either way." That backed up what Downey's former high school coach, DeAndre Scott, also said earlier Wednesday.

Scott announced on a Columbia radio show that Downey was "50-50" on returning to the Gamecocks or remaining in the NBA Draft, and followed that up by phone while he was on his way back to Wilson High School for basketball practice. "He's weighing his options and wants to take his time," Scott said. "He's got a workout tomorrow, with Milwaukee, I believe, and he's going to probably wait until the last possible day."

The last day Downey can withdraw from the draft is Monday. After only having one NBA workout since his initial decision to test the pro waters, Downey has worked out twice this week, with another scheduled for Thursday.

It's possible Downey could decide to play professionally overseas, perhaps attempting to enter the 2010 NBA Draft. That would be a way to cement a paycheck, overcoming the fear of injury should he come back for his senior year of college.

But it's no guarantee that that option would ensure Downey gets a look from the NBA. He wasn't invited to the pre-draft combine and doesn't show up on hardly any mock NBA drafts for this year. At 22 years of age, Downey's not going to get any taller than his listed 5-foot-9 height and even if he stars in Europe, it's always going to be a gamble for an NBA team to take such a small player, no matter what his numbers are.

Downey could have one more year of being a star in college, a plateau he has certainly reached after being named first-team All-SEC for each of the past two years. He could also want to go ahead and start his pro career, wherever that may be.

Scott said his former prize pupil will take his time and decide after the workouts. He'll have a weekend to think about it before decision day comes around.

"His goal is to play in the NBA," Scott said. "I wouldn't say Europe is a foregone conclusion for him because it's not definite he could go from there to the NBA.

"He enjoys South Carolina and he's excited about what he can do next year. He's just got to make up his mind what he wants most."