Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 4, 1995 TAG: 9505040106
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Wallace will make his announcement at Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia, where he became the No.1 prospect in the class of 1993. He signed with the Tar Heels shortly after North Carolina won the 1993 NCAA title.
He is expected to be joined at the news conference by his mother, Jackie, his high school coach, Bill Ellerbee, and North Carolina assistant coach Bill Guthridge. North Carolina head coach Dean Smith declined to comment Wednesday, saying he will issue a statement after Wallace makes his announcement.
The 6-foot-10 center becomes the first sophomore from North Carolina to enter the draft. Bob McAdoo, James Worthy, J.R. Reid and Michael Jordan left school after their junior years.
Wallace was a first-team All-ACC selection this season and helped the Tar Heels reach the NCAA Final Four, where they lost to Arkansas in a semifinal. Wallace was the team's second-leading scorer, averaging 16.6 points, and topped the team in rebounding (8.2) and blocked shots (2.7). During his two seasons he shot an ACC-record 63.4 percent from the field.
As a freshman, Wallace averaged 9.5 points, 6.6 rebounds as a reserve and late-season starter.
Although NBA insiders say he is not ready physically, Wallace is expected to be one of the top selections June 24 in the draft. NBA scouts question his strength, maturity and toughness, while loving his soft shooting touch and his ability to run the floor and block shots.
``He isn't ready for the NBA,'' said Keith Drum, a scout for the Portland Trail Blazers, ``but the NBA isn't concerned about that. The NBA drafts a player on his career [potential], what he can do when he's 26, 27, 28 years old.''
Wallace is projected as no worse than a top-five pick, which means there is a chance he could wind up playing in his hometown. The 76ers, depending on the order of selection, could have a shot at him, which may have been a factor in his decision.
Money was a major factor in Wallace's decision, according to sources close to the North Carolina program. The NBA is expected to adopt a rookie salary cap, perhaps before the draft and almost certainly before the 1996 draft that would limit the amount of money and length of contracts for first-year players.
North Carolina also is awaiting a decision regarding the NBA from 6-6 sophomore forward Jerry Stackhouse.
There is speculation that Stackhouse will return for his junior season in an effort to help the Tar Heels contend for the NCAA title, although sources close to the program say they ``have no feel'' for what Stackhouse will do.
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