Article in Foxsports
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OLYMPIC and Sydney Kings coach Brian Goorjian yesterday declared Melbourne's Andrew Bogut a "near certainty" first round selection for the NBA draft in June after he decided to opt out of his final two years of college at the University of Utah.
And Goorjian believes Bogut, because of his size and deft touch around the basket, could be picked No.1 overall.
"Andrew is already among the most highly-sought talents in US college basketball and he's now ready to take the next step and play in the NBA," Goorjian said yesterday. "There is no risk in my mind that the 20-year-old will be the number one overall pick."
Goorjian, who took Bogut to the Athens Olympics, has worked with the 207cm, 95kg player since he was 16.
"NBA scouts are salivating over his all-around skills, his seven-foot frame and superb touch," Goorjian said.
"Andrew isn't the only Australian shining at college. Luke Schenscher from Adelaide at Georgia Tech is another who is also being closely watched by the scouts."
Under NBA salary rules, a first-round draft pick is guaranteed a minimum $US3 million ($3.87m) a year.
"The money from when he signs his first contract is only a scratch to his potential earnings from endorsements," Goorjian said.
Bogut already boasts an impressive resume - world junior championships MVP, Athens Olympian, 2004 Mountain West Conference freshman of the year.
"In my mind he reminds me a lot of Shane Heal, who had that competitive streak in him," Gorjian said.
"You see it with Lleyton Hewitt. I saw it with Bogut the first time he walked into the gym for the Boomers."
Bogut is having a stand-out second year season in Utah, averaging 20 points per game, 12.2 rebounds (equal first in the country) and is shooting 64.7 per cent from the field (4th).
His Utes (18-3 record) are ranked 22nd in the nation and are riding a 13-game winning streak.
Bogut's exploits have led to the creation of his own link on Utah's official website, Awesome Aussie: The Bogut Blog.
A reporter on US sports network ESPN this week nominated him as the national player of the year.
Struggling NBA clubs Charlotte Bobcats, Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Hornets would be among likely destinations, with the draft system weighted heavily in favour of the bottom teams.
But all 30 clubs would love first crack at him.
While his profile in the US continues to grow, Goorjian feels Bogut could have an even bigger impact back home, similar to China's 2002 No.1 draft pick Yao Ming.
"We need role models and Andrew Gaze has been fantastic but he's 40, he's got grey hair and he looks like me," Goorjian said.