By Gentry Estes
DAILY Sports Writer
gestes@decaturdaily.com · 340-2460

ATHENS — The first decision for Richard Hendrix was a difficult one. The second could be even tougher.

DAILY File Photo by Gary Cosby Jr. Richard Hendrix, who is averaging 22.7 points and 14.6 rebounds a game, says he may consider bypassing Alabama for the NBA.

Athens' star 6-foot-9 center hasn't ruled out skipping a college career at Alabama to enter the 2005 NBA draft. Matter of fact, Hendrix plans to toe the waters at pre-draft all-star games this summer, and his pro stock may have improved since the start of his final season with the Golden Eagles.

"I'm really thinking about the NBA," Hendrix said after practice at Athens on Tuesday. "If it comes to an opportunity where I'm considered a lottery pick or a top 20 pick, I'll really have to strongly consider going into the draft."

Especially for basketball, pro draft projections are muddled because of the number of swing players who could potentially leave college early or skip it altogether. Nationally, the 2005 senior prep class isn't regarded as highly as 2004, when eight of the draft's first 19 selections were high school prospects.

May 14 is the deadline for early entry into the NBA draft. A player can pull out, but must do so by June 21. The draft is June 28.

Heading into his senior year, Hendrix was consistently rated among the nation's top high school players. One USA Today columnist rated him the No. 1 rising senior in the nation.

For Hendrix and father Venard, his head coach at Athens, it's a matter of gathering enough information from pro suitors. So far, they like what they've heard.

"First round, top 20 would be ideal," Richard Hendrix said. "It's always been my goal to be in the NBA."

Both father and son say Hendrix would have to be a lock in the draft's first round to consider the jump. But lottery pick status among the top 13 teams — and the guaranteed money that goes with it — would make the move difficult to pass up.

"He could be a lottery pick. He really could be," Venard Hendrix said. "That's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That's what every player plays for, to get to the NBA. That's his dream. If it happens, yeah, he will consider it, and he will go in the draft."

For months, Richard Hendrix weighed Alabama and North Carolina before signing with the Crimson Tide this past fall. While No. 16-ranked Alabama approaches an almost-certain spot in next month's NCAA tournament, Athens will host Gardendale in a state sub-regional game Friday night.

"When our season ends, he'll start focusing on Alabama," Venard Hendrix said.

"Right now, it's Athens High School. Alabama is doing great without him."

While the young Hendrix said he has kept up with Alabama's performance this season, he has also tried to enjoy the sunset of his high school career.

"I know they're having a great year," he said. "With the year they've had and the success they're having, I know it's been hard for Coach (Mark Gottfried) and everyone to stay in contact.

"I want to concentrate on my senior year in Athens and not hang around in Tuscaloosa every weekend or on gameday."

Subscribe for only 33¢ a day!