Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 27, 1990 TAG: 9006270116
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From staff and Associated Press reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Coles finished his career as the all-time leading scorer for Tech and the Metro Conference and in 1988-89 became the only player to lead the Metro in scoring and assists in the same season.
Several NBA teams are interested in the former Hokie, including Boston, which has the 19th pick and is looking for help at point guard. The Celtics have interviewed Coles, Dee Brown of Jacksonville and Brian Oliver of Georgia Tech. Coles' agent, Bob Woolf, and Detroit scouting director Stan Novak both say they've heard Boston's interest in Coles is high.
If Coles goes in the first round, he'll join Dell Curry as Hokie first-rounders. Curry was the 15th pick, by Utah, in the 1986 draft.
This year's No. 1 pick seems destined to be Syracuse forward Derrick Coleman - unless the New Jersey Nets deal the pick. But the Nets, who have made plenty of deals the past few days, weren't making any that involve their No. 1 pick.
The 6-foot-10, 235-pound Coleman set an NCAA record with 1,537 career rebounds and the Syracuse scoring record with 2,143 points. He's also considered an outstanding passer.
But he's been criticized for being inconsistent.
"I think sometimes he played to the level of competition," Nets coach Bill Fitch said. "Playing against the best will bring out the best in him. He really wants to be great."
Following New Jersey, the next three picks belong to Seattle, Denver and Orlando, and it's expected that three perimeter players - Gary Payton of Oregon State, Dennis Scott of Georgia Tech and Chris Jackson of Louisiana State - will be grabbed quickly, but not necessarily in that order.
"I haven't figured out who is going to take me," said the 6-7 Scott, heralded as the top outside shooter in the draft. "Where I go doesn't matter. Obviously the first and second picks are going to make more money than 12 or 13, but all of us in the draft have dreamed of just playing in the NBA."
Projected among the highest picks at guard are Kendall Gill of Illinois, Rumeal Robinson of Michigan, Bo Kimble of Loyola Marymount, Willie Burton of Minnesota and Travis Mays of Texas.
The highest-rated forwards after Scott and Coleman are Alec Kessler of Georgia, Tyrone Hill of Xavier (Ohio) and Loy Vaught of Michigan.
The top centers are Felton Spencer of Louisville, Dwayne Schintzius of Florida and Duane Causwell of Temple.
by CNB