Fort Collins – There’s a no-foul, no-loss-of-eligibility process for Colorado State’s Jason Smith to consider once the season is over.
The NCAA permits underclassmen to attend an NFL combine-like predraft camp in Orlando, Fla., from June 6-10. As long as the players don’t hire agents, they can return to school for another year. The only catch is they can’t go a second time without losing eligibility.
San Diego State’s Marcus Slaughter, Illinois’ Dee Brown and West Virginia’s Kevin Pittsnogle went to the predraft camp last year and then withdrew their names. Slaughter and Brown had foot injuries that factored into the decision. Slaughter has capitalized on his decision and has the inside track on Mountain West Conference player of the year honors.
Smith, a 7-foot, 230-pound sophomore, said he would consider such a move, but won’t think seriously about it until after the season.
“It would be a great learning opportunity,” he said.
At least three dozen NBA scouts have watched Smith at Moby Arena this season. The consensus from those who agreed to talk about Smith on condition of anonymity is that he would be better off staying in school another year, but if he came out this year he would be a first-round pick.
NBA draftniks outside the region might react with a “Who from where?” if Smith left after this season. The predraft camp would give Smith a chance to scrimmage against other top prospects, as well as get feedback from NBA coaches.
“I haven’t been thinking about it too much lately,” Smith said of the NBA. “I’ve just been trying to concentrate on the season.”
Ever since classmates in summer school told him he was on Internet mock draft sites and listed as a lottery pick in 2007, Smith has taken it all in stride. While he’s still on the 2007 radar – at No. 8 on nbadraft.net – another draft site, probasketball.about.com, has Smith going No. 12 this year. Smith is averaging 17 points, 7.2 rebounds and has 44 blocked shots this season.
The Rams (12-11, 1-9) have lost seven games in a row and play tonight at Utah.
“We definitely have confidence that we can beat them,” Smith said.
Staff writer Marc J. Spears contributed to this report.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
