Spring Break
Ater Majok declares for NBA draft
Marc Gauthier
Issue date: 4/24/09 Section: Sports
Whether he's playing some off-season pick up basketball, or just running the stairs at Gampel Pavilion, Ater Majok wears his practice jersey each time he steps onto the court.
He's never officially donned the UConn uniform and it looks like he might never get that chance.
In an unexpected announcement Thursday, Majok, a 6-foot-10, 233-pound forward, became the second undergraduate UConn player to declared for this year's NBA draft. Majok also said he will not hire an agent.
"After meeting with my family, I have decided that it is in my best interest to enter the NBA Draft," Majok said. "I feel it will help me to test the process and get feedback on my strengths and weaknesses. It will allow me to get a better idea of what areas in my game need improvement and make me a better player in the future. I will not be hiring an agent and I enter this process with the full intention of assessing my abilities and returning to Connecticut in 2009-10."
The NCAA legislative panel voted Monday on a decision that would force underclassmen to decide whether or not they want to participate in the NBA draft by May 8 of the respective draft year.
The current date is set at 10 days before the draft in June. This new rule will go into effect for next year's draft class.
"In view of the upcoming rule changes for underclassmen, this is an opportunity for Ater to see where he currently fits into what I believe will be a future in professional basketball," said coach Jim Calhoun. "I respect that Ater understands that this decision is about more than just him and that he has, and will continue to, involve his immediate family in this process as it goes forward."
Majok, whose name had come up in the recent alleged recruiting violations against UConn, was not eligible to play last season. He joined the team in the spring semester of 2009, but his academic eligibility was held by the NCAA Eligibility Center. He will be able to play in games at the end of the 2009 fall semester.
He's never officially donned the UConn uniform and it looks like he might never get that chance.
In an unexpected announcement Thursday, Majok, a 6-foot-10, 233-pound forward, became the second undergraduate UConn player to declared for this year's NBA draft. Majok also said he will not hire an agent.
"After meeting with my family, I have decided that it is in my best interest to enter the NBA Draft," Majok said. "I feel it will help me to test the process and get feedback on my strengths and weaknesses. It will allow me to get a better idea of what areas in my game need improvement and make me a better player in the future. I will not be hiring an agent and I enter this process with the full intention of assessing my abilities and returning to Connecticut in 2009-10."
The NCAA legislative panel voted Monday on a decision that would force underclassmen to decide whether or not they want to participate in the NBA draft by May 8 of the respective draft year.
The current date is set at 10 days before the draft in June. This new rule will go into effect for next year's draft class.
"In view of the upcoming rule changes for underclassmen, this is an opportunity for Ater to see where he currently fits into what I believe will be a future in professional basketball," said coach Jim Calhoun. "I respect that Ater understands that this decision is about more than just him and that he has, and will continue to, involve his immediate family in this process as it goes forward."
Majok, whose name had come up in the recent alleged recruiting violations against UConn, was not eligible to play last season. He joined the team in the spring semester of 2009, but his academic eligibility was held by the NCAA Eligibility Center. He will be able to play in games at the end of the 2009 fall semester.
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