<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">University of Maryland basketball players Ekene Ibekwe and D.J. Strawberry likely will test the NBA waters by making themselves eligible for this June's draft before the April 29 deadline for non-seniors. Two sources in California close to the players said they will declare so they can learn about the process and compete in pre-draft workouts. If the players file the requisite paperwork, both are expected to pull out of the draft before the June 18 deadline. Maryland Coach Gary Williams said through a school spokesperson yesterday that neither player has made a decision and that no paperwork has been completed. "It is complete speculation at this point," Williams said. "There have been some discussions, but it's way too soon to speculate on something like that." Neither player is currently projected to be taken in the two-round draft June 28. If the two file the paperwork, sources close to the players said neither will hire an agent, which allows them the option to return to school for their senior seasons. "D.J. is not ready for the NBA this year," said Strawberry's longtime mentor, DeAnthony Langston. "He will return to Maryland. He loves the University of Maryland. He is doing this for the workouts, the competition." Ibekwe's older brother, Onye, said his brother likely would remain in the draft only if he were projected to be a first-round pick. "It depends on how workouts go," Onye Ibekwe said. "There is no rush. He just wants to test the waters." Ibekwe, who averaged 11.1 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds, changed his shooting motion last summer and improved his free throw shooting as a junior. But the 6-foot-9 forward was largely inconsistent and foul prone. Strawberry made a full recovery as a junior after missing the second half of his sophomore year because of season-ending knee surgery. Forced to play point guard because Maryland had no viable alternative, Strawberry struggled at times, averaging 10.3 points and four assists. Strawberry is expected to play shooting guard or small forward, his more natural positions, next season at Maryland. Langston said Strawberry could earn an invitation to Orlando's NBA pre-draft camp June 6-12 because he is 6-5 and can play three positions. "Next year is his year, his senior year," Langston said. "He was devastated they did not go to the NCAA tournament. He was in tears when he called me afterward. I had never heard him like that. He wants to come back and get to the NCAAs." On another front, the three seniors on last season's Maryland team -- Travis Garrison, Nik Caner-Medley and Chris McCray -- have all left school in recent weeks to begin training for what they hope will be careers in professional basketball. Garrison, who has worked out locally, has been adamant about returning to school in the future to complete his degree requirements, an athletic department source said. McCray, who was ruled academically ineligible Jan. 23, has been working out in Houston with former Maryland player John Lucas. And Caner-Medley has been working out in Chicago with noted trainer Tim Grover and a host of draft hopefuls, including Michigan State's Paul Davis, Iowa State's Curtis Stinson and Kentucky's Rajon Rondo. Kevin Bradbury, Caner-Medley's agent who works for Bill Duffy's BDA Sports Management, said Caner-Medley has an excellent chance to get invited to compete in Orlando's pre-draft camp. Caner-Medley, who carried Maryland offensively during the second half of the season, is considered a borderline second-round pick.</div> Source
