Tyrus Thomas To Go High?

[GeauxTo]

LSU's Thomas eyes top five in draft (http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060628/SPORTS0202/606280307/1028)

Freakishly athletic is Tyrus Thomas, and that's why he will be one of the first players selected in tonight's NBA draft on ESPN. ... Full Story (http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060628/SPORTS0202/606280307/1028)

[scfan5338]

There is no doubt that he is going to go in the Top 5 of 6 picks. Many have said that he has the most "up side" out of anybody in the draft. I dont know how they come up with that cause he only played one year and he shined only in 5-10 games. If you look at it that way, then Renaldo Balkman should be a Top 10 pick.

[GeauxTo]

BATON ROUGE -- In his heart, even before he stepped on the court for his spectacular 2005-06 season, Tyrus Thomas knew he was National Basketball Association draft material.

Not just NBA draft material, but lottery pick NBA draft material.

Wednesday night, the dream is over. The reality will begin. With Thomas in New York to see how it plays out live while an ESPN audience watches, the LSU freshman All-American and SEC Freshman of the Year will hear his name called early in the NBA Draft. He will make the walk across the stage, shake hands with Commissioner David Stern and a new life and new dreams will slowly emerge.

"Did I think this was possible? I thought it was possible, honestly, I did," the 6-9 Baton Rouge native recently said of his draft aspirations. "I know a lot of people didn't. A lot of the critics weren't in the gym. They watched the game. They didn't watch me at 9 or 10 o'clock working out, rebounding for myself. I'm telling you, I honestly thought this could happen."

Little by little, as LSU continued to make its mark on the national scene en route to the Southeastern Conference Championship and the NCAA Final Four, the fans, the media and very quickly the NBA scouts learned who and what Tyrus Thomas was all about. They realized the potential, raw as it was in his one year at LSU that was there for an NBA team to develop. A top pick was worth it if Thomas wanted to play out the cards and leave after one year of playing college basketball.

Thomas moved into the starting lineup nine games into the Tigers 27-9 season and averaged 12.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and had 99 blocks in 32 games. Thomas missed four games late with a sprained ankle, but returned for the NCAA Tournament and was named the MVP of the Atlanta NCAA Region.

As the draft rolls around, the speculation is that Thomas will be selected Wednesday night as the No. 2 pick of the Chicago Bulls. That's a team that LSU Coach John Brady feels will be a great spot for Thomas.

"(Chicago Coach) Scott Skiles will challenge him and get on him and they'll win," said the SEC Coach of the Year. "He's coming off one of the closest-knit college basketball teams in the country. I told (Chicago GM John) Paxson and (Player Personnel Director) Gar Forman not to worry about Tyrus on the floor. He's a heck of a talent. The only problem at 19 or 20 is, is he emotionally mature enough to handle the NBA life?

Ironically, former LSU player Randy Livingston has been working with Thomas for nearly a month in Orlando on his game and advising Thomas on the NBA life style that he will encounter. Livingston, who was drafted by Houston in the 1996 draft, has played 199 games in the league over the last 11 years and finished this season with the Bulls after being signed to two 10-day contracts and later signed for the remainder of the season.

However in the last 10 days before the draft, things began to get a little murky. A newspaper in Portland said that Thomas cancelled a workout because his agents said a team higher than the Trailblazers at No. 4 had promised Thomas a draft position.

But now agents Brian Elfus and Michael Siegel are trying to stop such talk that has been picked up on the wire and several internet sites.

"Tyrus has not nor has he ever been guaranteed a draft selection by the Bulls or any other team," Siegel told ESPN.com's Chad Ford. "That's a mischaracterization of what I said to them," Elfus responded. "We did cancel on the Blazers, but not because he had a promise to be selected higher."

The Portland workout was cancelled so he could get in a second workout with Chicago eight days before the draft.

"Why would he be working out for a team that has already promised to take him?" Elfus said.

Although there have been reports of Thomas injuring his groin and limiting his workout ability, a little setback like that won't affect what happens when the draft takes place. It's the body of work that has impressed the scouts all year long.

Then Monday, a report that new Charlotte Bobcats part-owner Michael Jordan may want to find a way to trade up to the No. 1 spot with Toronto to get Thomas. Toronto may be willing to move down a few slots, where the Raptors would still be able to select Italy's 7-foot Andrea Bargnani. Jay Bilas of ESPN.com on Monday still has Thomas as the number one top athlete available in this year's draft.

Thomas' selection will give LSU fans another team to keep an eye on in the NBA and give LSU another player in the elite company of top draft picks from Tiger Town.

Thomas will be the 12th first-round NBA draft pick from LSU:

1952 -- Joe Dean, Indianapolis
1954 -- Bob Pettit, Milwaukee (2nd pick) 1970 -- Pete Maravich, Atlanta (3rd pick)
1983 -- Howard Carter, Denver
1985 -- Jerry Reynolds, Milwaukee
1986 -- John Williams, Washington
1990 -- Chris Jackson, Denver (3rd pick)
1991 -- Stanley Roberts, Orlando
1992 -- Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando (1st pick)
1993 -- Geert Hammink, Orlando
2000 -- Stromile Swift, Vancouver (2nd pick)

Since 1952, 45 LSU players have been chosen by teams in the NBA draft. Plus there are countless others who have and are presently playing for teams abroad. In all, a total of 29 players have logged regular season minutes in either the NBA or the ABA.

Where and when Tyrus Thomas' name is added to that list remains to be seen until the early evening hours on Wednesday when David Stern will tell Thomas, his family, friends and all his fans, what NBA team will be his home and will holds his rights for the next three years. The clock is ticking.

[WooHawg]

Cool, Thomas to Portland. Now just waiting to see when Brewer will go.

[GeauxTo]

Cool, Thomas to Portland. Now just waiting to see when Brewer will go.LSU's Thomas goes No. 4 in NBA Draft (http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060628/SPORTS0202/60628021/1028)

The Portland Trail Blazers selected former LSU forward and SEC Freshman of the Year Tyrus Thomas with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft on Wednesday, then promptly traded him to Chicago. ... Full Story (http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060628/SPORTS0202/60628021/1028)

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