Prep stars have hoop choice — for now

NEW YORK — Andray Blatche of South Kent Prep in Connecticut believes it would be a good idea for the NBA to raise the minimum age to 20. He just doesn't think it's a good idea for him.

Blatche will be entering this June's NBA draft, and his performance — 26 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks — in Saturday night's Jordan Classic high school All-Star game likely left a positive impression on the numerous NBA scouts in attendance.

But prep stars Blatche, Louis Williams, Martell Webster, Gerald Green, Monta Ellis and others could become the last group of high schoolers to have the choice of choosing college or the pros.

With the NBA's collective bargaining agreement expiring June 30 — two days after the draft, commissioner David Stern is pushing hard in labor talks for having the age limit raised to 20. Union director Billy Hunter has said publicly that the issue is negotiable, leading many to assume a change is likely.

"I don't think it's a bad idea. I think it's a good idea as a matter of fact," said Blatche, who would like to be drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats and is currently projected as a mid to late first-round pick. "It didn't (impact my decision). If you're ready to go, it's different. The time is now, you take it."

Under current NBA rules, a U.S. player's high school class must have graduated in order for him to become eligible for the draft, while international players must turn 18 before the draft in order to be eligible.

Stern's new system would make greater use of the National Basketball Development League, using it as more of a traditional minor league system in which players not yet ready to contribute to their NBA clubs could be sent down to the so-called D-League.

Union officials have said Stern regards the minimum age as a major issue. And although many players are philosophically uncomfortable with the change, the union could agree to an increase if the league makes significant economic concessions in the new collective bargaining agreement.

"It's going to hurt some of the kids in high school who are NBA-bound. Next year, there's Greg Oden (of Lawrence North H.S. in Indianapolis), who's ready to go out of high school right now, and the following year so will O.J. Mayo (of Cincinnati's North College Hill H.S.)," said Webster, a Seattle prepster who has yet to decide whether he'll enter the draft or attend Washington. "If that rule gets passed, they've got to go to college for two years, but the law is the law. We'll see."