<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When the NBA calls, offering glory and millions of dollars, some players take the bait. Von Wafer bolted Florida State after his sophomore season in 2004-2005. Last year, Alexander Johnson did the same at FSU following his junior campaign. Wafer was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers and played in 16 games over one-plus seasons. Instead of honing his skills in two more seasons with the Seminoles, the Lakers sent Wafer to the NBA Developmental League and later released him. Johnson never established himself as a dominant threat in college but elected to forgo his senior season anyway. Now, Johnson is riding the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies. And then there's Al Thornton. Like Johnson and Wafer, Thornton could have jumped into the NBA draft pool and become really, really rich. Scouts told the 6-foot-8 Thornton he'd be a late first-round pick. He possessed the skills to make it at the next level -- a strong frame, quickness to drive to the hoop, and good shooting range. But it would have been too easy to leave Florida State in the dust. So, Thornton put his team ahead of himself and decided to stay, hoping to get FSU its first berth in the NCAA Tournament since 1998. "That's very important for me," Thornton said. "That's one of the main reasons I came back. Everybody on this team felt like we should have been there last year. Everything we do -- exhibition games to practices to watching film -- we're going to think about that." The Seminoles fell short of the "big dance," despite 19 regular season wins and a victory over top-ranked Duke. The deciding factor was a loss in the opening round of the ACC tourney to Wake Forest, sending Florida State to the NIT. Thornton keeps a reminder of last year's disappointment on each wrist -- he wears a pair of rubber bracelets that read "Next Step." Isaiah Swann shares the same court as Thornton, but don't mind him if he steps back to admire the talents of his teammate. "I am a fan, a big fan," Swann said. "I love to see him go out there . . . He just goes all-out. Somebody who does that every possession . . . We just put the ball in his hands and expect him to make the right play."</div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><u><font color=""Red""> Instead of honing his skills in two more seasons with the Seminoles, the Lakers sent Wafer to the NBA Developmental League and later released him.</font></u></div> Read the damn article before asking... please.
I don't like how this article criticizes Alexander Johnson for leaving early. He's been one of the most impressive rookies so far this season and has actually started the last twelve games for the Grizzlies. The other night he put up 23 points and grabbed 10 boards against the Wizards, he's fourth in rookie rebounds per game, and NBA.Com currently rates him as the #10 rookie in the league. I don't understand exactly why he should have stayed in school. Besides, Thornton really never had the kind of opportunity to bolt that Johnson did, so it's like comparing apples to oranges.
<div class="quote_poster">arre Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Read the damn article before asking... please. </div> Understand the question first please. Don't jump to conclusions, I wouldn't ask if I didn't read. I'm going to have to be more specific to prevent replies like this in the future Where is Von Wafer now AFTER getting released? Is he still working out with other teams? Did he go to Europe?
