NBA DRAFT West remains undecided



His attractiveness to NBA scouts isn't exactly clear.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Saint Joseph's was to find out today if guard Delonte West will return to the Hawks for his senior season or keep his name in the NBA draft.
Coach Phil Martelli said Wednesday that West was still undecided.
"I expect it will go almost until the end," Martelli said. "I think right now, the best way to describe it is 50-50."
Martelli said his gut feeling on West's decision seems to change every 10 minutes. He called getting involved in speculation "wasted energy."
Played well at camp
West, an honorable mention AP All-American last season, attended the NBA's pre-draft camp in Chicago and played well while battling through a sprained right foot.
Martelli said feedback from NBA personnel about where West fits in the draft has been mixed. Scouts told West and Martelli the guard should work on his strength, lateral speed and play more at point guard.
"I'm hearing that he's a pro," Martelli said. "Some teams are very, very hot. Some are cooler."
West averaged 18.9 points and 5.4 rebounds while helping the Hawks to a 27-0 start. Saint Joseph's finished 30-2, reaching No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time in school history and earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
West developed into one of the top shooting guards in the Atlantic 10 and teamed with Jameer Nelson to form one of the best backcourts in the nation. With his left-handed release, strong free-throw shooting and knack for knocking down off-balance shots, West became one of the toughest players to defend in the conference.
Smaller than he thought
He ran into a small surprise at the camp, though. After he was listed as 6-foot-4 all season, West measured at the camp 6-11/2 without shoes, 6-23/4 with shoes. Martelli said that didn't dissuade many scouts.
West has two important factors in his decision. Like Nelson did a year ago, West can return for his senior season, be the leader of the team and improve his stock.
Or he could get hurt and watch his opportunity slip away.
Guaranteed 3-year deal
Any player selected in the first round receives a guaranteed three-year contract. Nothing is guaranteed after that.
"There's that uncertainty of looking around in October and it's, 'Now what do you do?' " Martelli said. "It's a real unknown. It's a real fear. But coming back to school has its fears."
Martelli has heard that Nelson could be anywhere from a lottery pick to a late first-round selection. Martelli said Nelson has a second workout scheduled with Phoenix -- which was the seventh pick -- where he'll go head-to-head with Connecticut's Ben Gordon.