Husky Men's Basketball Blog

Seattle Times staff reporter Bob Condotta provides a running commentary on the Huskies.

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April 21, 2008 9:26 AM

USC's Jefferson gone, Gibson back?

Two of the still-unresolved pro-or-college decisions among Pac-10 players are USC's Davon Jefferson and Taj Gibson.

However, Scott Wolf of the LA Daily News reports today that Jefferson is leaning toward declaring (though uncertain if he will hire an agent) with Gibson likely expected back.

So let's recap where it appears we are with Pac-10 early entries:

ARIZONA --- Jerryd Bayless gone never to return, Chase Budinger declared but with option to return (though probably unlikely to come back)..

CAL --- Ryan Anderson has declared but with option to return, which may be more likely now that Mike Montgomery is the coach.

STANFORD --- Brook and Robin Lopez gone for good.

USC --- O.J. Mayo gone for good, Jefferson probably gone for good if he declares, Gibson apparently returning.

UCLA --- Kevin Love, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Russell Westbrook have all declared without hiring an agent and Darren Collison is expected to later this week. Conventional wisdom is that Love, Westbrook and Collison will all remain in the draft.

The biggest losers are Stanford and Arizona, as UCLA and USC each appear to have planned pretty well for the future, knowing that Love and Mayo weren't going to stay long (and the Bruins also doing a nice job of preparing for life without Collison, as well).

There's no way to adequately replace the Lopez Twins, who were a unique package, and now also facing a coaching change, Stanford appears headed for a big fall. And while Arizona has a nice class coming in, its overall depth doesn't make it as well-equipped to handle these losses as are the Bruins and Trojans.

How Cal comes out of all of this is obviously solely dependent on Anderson.

No one else in the Pac-10 has lost anyone to voluntary early entry (an acknowledgment that C.J. Giles will officially be an early-entry case, as well).

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Posted by collison

10:58 AM, Apr 21, 2008

If Collison declares he must stay in correct? because you are only given two opportunities to declare for the draft is my understanding.

Posted by Bob Condotta

11:29 AM, Apr 21, 2008

I've actually seen varying interpretations of that rule, so not sure it's that hard and fast--- depends more, I think, on what steps you actually take. But I think if he declares this year, he's gone.

Posted by grant

11:47 AM, Apr 21, 2008

I can't wait until the deadline passes so we can start to more accurately forecast next season. At the same time, I feel for any fan of a team that has an underclassman on the fence. When Nate and Hawes (who left) and B-Roy (who stayed) tested the NBA waters most Husky fans were nervous as hell. It's nice to not go through that stressful process for a change, although I wouldn't mind the success that accompanies having a potential NBA player on campus return (Q-Pon...)

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