I'm surprised no one has mentioned this as of yet. It was announced at the senior banquet a couple of weeks ago.
I think everyone knows, including Courtney, that this is a long shot. However, it certainly doesn't hurt to declare, and it may help him get his name out there. If nothing else, it may help him earn a more lucrative contract in Europe if he decides to go that route.
Here is a link that shows those who have officially entered into this draft.
http://www.nbadraft.net/2008earlyentry.asp
I am assuming this is the type of declaration where he has not gotten an agent, just testing the waters, so he won't lose any eligibility? I hope.
Yeah 88. Tim Smith did the same thing. Hey, I say why not, give it a shot.
Not a bad idea to see where you stand, at the very least it will keep him playing throughout the summer against top notch competition.
I think that is a good thing, he won't go to the nba but it will make scouts look at him his senior year
he will never be good enough for the nba, but if he wants to test the waters and confirm that, i guess i dont have a problem with it.
oh pleeeeeease sign an agent....pleaaaase Pigram. You can do it. I think you are a first round pick for sure!!!!!
According to the Oklahoma State announcers, NBA scouts had Pegram on the radar screen before the Bucs played at OSU.
From today's JC Press (They're behind us):
Pigram on early-entry list for NBA
By Joe Avento
Press Sports Writer
javento@johnsoncitypress.com
Discuss This Article in Our Forums
Courtney Pigram has spent much of the past two years making a name for himself on the basketball court. Now the East Tennessee State guard wants to make sure the folks in the NBA know who he is.
Pigram has added his name to the list of early entries for the June 26 NBA Draft.
“I just wanted to get my name out there a little bit,” Pigram said Wednesday. “I wanted to see what kind of workouts I can get into. I wanted to position myself for next year, mostly.”
Early-entry candidates can retain their collegiate eligibility if they don’t hire an agent and withdraw from the draft by June 16. That’s part of Pigram’s plan.
“Getting my degree is important,” he said. “I’m looking forward to next year, looking forward to helping my team a little more.”
Pigram is the second ETSU player to declare for the draft early. Tim Smith did it after his junior year, but returned to school.
“Courtney felt like he wanted to test the waters,” ETSU coach Murry Bartow said. “I don’t think there’s any harm in that, seeing his name on the list. If people want him to come in and work out, he can do that and see where he is. If it looks good, he would keep his name in. If he doesn’t like what he’s hearing, he’ll come back.”
As a sophomore, Pigram averaged 18.1 points a game and was the Atlantic Sun Conference player of the year. Last season, he was forced into a duel role as a shooting guard and point guard and his average went down to 15.8, although he did lead the team in assists.
Pigram will be able to spend most, if not all, of his time at his natural shooting guard spot next year. The Bucs have signed a 6-foot-5 point guard, Adam Sollazzo to help run the offense.
“We signed a big point guard,” Pigram said. “I’m looking forward to playing with him. He can look over the defense. I think I’ll be able to help the team more that I was able to this year.”
Pigram says he’s not expecting it, but if the NBA experts tell him he’s ready to turn pro and would be drafted, he’ll take the chance.
“If everything goes right, I make that jump,” he said. “Who don’t want that opportunity? But that’s gonna come in the future. I really need to get that degree. I’m looking forward to it. I was just putting my name out there so everybody can see it a little bit. I just wanted to know where I stand.”[/align]
I just hope this coming season he doesn't force things and just make it about me, me, me trying to impress scouts (if they do have any interest). Not saying he will do this, but that temptation to force things will always be there. We will need his Sr leadership, especially with the new young players that most likely will see a lot of early playing time. I can see him playing in the Rocky Top summer league again though.
There is that risk, but I don't think he will. I do however think he felt overly responsible for the team this past year. With Sollazzo coming in, he'll be able to flourish like he did his sophomore season. I predict he'll be POY this year.
What an idiot. He's not getting picked in the draft.
Shows how much you know about the system lover. The idea is not to get picked this year, it is to get his name out there. You can tell by his tone in the article that he's expecting not to go pro this year. He wants to work out for a couple teams so they will have him on their radar next year. If you ask me, that's actually pretty smart.
Lay off him 'Lover--who are you to say that's a dumb move.
Shows how much you know about the system lover. The idea is not to get picked this year, it is to get his name out there. You can tell by his tone in the article that he's expecting not to go pro this year. He wants to work out for a couple teams so they will have him on their radar next year. If you ask me, that's actually pretty smart.
I agree. His expectations sound completely reasonable to me. No harm in doing that at all. If he does get invitited to work out, he'll be playing against some of the best college players in America. Most importantly, he understands the importance of getting his degree.
What an idiot. He's not getting picked in the draft.
Did you read any part of this thread other then the title? CP knows he isn't getting drafted. It was a caculated move with some potential upside and zero downside. He hasn't burned any bridges, Bartow understands what he is doing and why. Not a big deal and for you to call the young man idiot is a bit over the line. Read the JC Press article it is spelled out pretty plainly what he is doing and why.
R
I guess I could say Lover, what an idiot he can't understand what he is reading but no that wouldn't be nice.
I just hope this coming season he doesn't force things and just make it about me, me, me trying to impress scouts (if they do have any interest). Not saying he will do this, but that temptation to force things will always be there. We will need his Sr leadership, especially with the new young players that most likely will see a lot of early playing time. I can see him playing in the Rocky Top summer league again though.
Pre-draft workouts start the 1st week of June, so I think the Rocky Top league is out.
I have the same concern as you do when it comes to CP possibly trying to force things to impress scouts. I think the pre-draft camp scene may help him and us come next season because he should learn from the process that he needs to work on becoming a more consistent shooter and improving his shot selection. I think having a true PG as well as someone like Tiggs to take the pressure off the scoring load will help out a lot. There is no reason why CP shouldn't be able to score 20ppg in the normal flow of the game.
I thought CP needed to shoot the ball more this past season, he never really looked comfortable out there
Either way, why go through the process and risk injury to yourself? What happens if by going through this, he blows an ACL? I know that's alot of what if's, but still yet if that happens, it hurts the team next season. I just think it's idiotic for him to go through this and risk hurting the team for next year, because that's what he has, this team. After next season, he gets a degree, and outside of some international leagues that he'll play in, basketball is over after next season and the real world begins. This last year, with what we have coming in and returning, CP has the opportunity to accomplish some very special things at the collegiate level, so why risk it over something that he KNOWS isn't going to happen?
Whether CP is looking into the draft or not, he will be playing basketball somewhere during the summer. How is this any different than the Rocky Top League? He could just as easily have blown out an ACL doing that last summer. He probably should not be playing any pick up games on campus or at home either. Maybe he could find one of those bubbles to live in until practice starts next season.
I applaud him for attempting to better himself.
There is no way CP can get hurt declaring himself for the draft. He can get hurt playing basketball during the off season which something he would have been doing anyway and is
something the coaches encourage. He played in the Rocky Top last year as did Reed and
Swader and the entire UT roster. It would suck if he did get hurt but it wouldn't have anything
to do with wether he declared for the draft, in fact I would say the risk of injury is less during a
workout then it would be in the Rocky Top where it is pretty much playground rules and very little officatiing.
R
Couldn't agree more with the two guys above
While I see the points on pickup games and the RTL, atleast he's playing alongside his teammates, working on chemistry for next season. I would much rather him be doing that than off on some selfish, not going to happen NBA deal the way Tim Smith did, and we all know how that mess turned out.