ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 4, 1996 TAG: 9604040090
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: Associated Press
Stephon Marbury made it official Wednesday night: One year of college basketball was enough to prepare him for the NBA.
After one season at Georgia Tech, the 19-year-old point guard said he had signed with an agent and would make himself available for the NBA draft.
During a news conference at Junior's, a Brooklyn restaurant famed for its cheesecake - one of which was named for him - Marbury made the announcement surrounded by family, friends and Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins.
``I've always worked hard for this,'' Marbury said. ``I've always watched the NBA growing up. I always watched Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson and I said I could be playing on the court with them. Next year, I will be.
``Opportunity is knocking and I have to take advantage of that.
Marbury left no doubt he won't be coming back to Georgia Tech.
``I don't want to prolong it. I have signed with an agent,'' he said, referring to Eric Fleischer. ``I am putting everything behind me and focusing only on the NBA.''
Marbury said in November he would leave college if he was going to be among the top five selections in the NBA draft. Even though there were no assurances, the information Cremins was able to obtain indicated the 6-foot-2 star would go early enough.
Marbury was named rookie of the year in the ACC after averaging 18.9 points and 4.5 assists for the Yellow Jackets, who returned to the NCAA Tournament this season after a two-year absence. They reached the Sweet 16 before losing to Cincinnati.
Marbury has three older brothers who played college basketball. His younger brother, Zach, just completed his sophomore season at Lincoln, the same high school Stephon led to the New York City Public School championship.
The news conference started 40 minutes late as Marbury refused to begin without his mother, Mabel, present. She was stuck in traffic.
``I think my mother wanted me to stay,'' he said. ``She's always looked at me as her baby and it's hard for her to think I went from high school to the NBA in one year.''
Underclassmen have until May 12 to apply for entry to the draft. Marbury joins sophomore Lorenzen Wright of Memphis and juniors Ronnie Henderson of Louisiana State and Darnell Robinson of Arkansas as those who have declared.
Among the players who still may make the decision and have a decided impact on the draft are Marcus Camby of Massachusetts, Tim Duncan of Wake Forest, Ray Allen of Connecticut and Allen Iverson of Georgetown.
Players may remove their name from the list before the draft with no penalty or may return to school after being drafted as long as no contract with an agent has been signed. Any team drafting a player who decides to return retains the rights to that player.
``I fully support Stephon's decision,'' Cremins said. ``I told him even before the season that he could be an NBA player, but first he would have to become a good college player and he did that.
``Stephon was a very important part of our program and will always be a part of the Georgia Tech family.''
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