Hernandez Eager for NBA Opportunity

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There's no doubt about Stanford point guard Chris Hernandez's desire to leave school for the NBA. The issue is opportunity. If he gets one, he's gone. If he doesn't, he's coming back for his senior season.

``It's just that time in my life,'' said Hernandez, who is a senior academically but has one year of eligibility remaining. ``I've been at Stanford for four years, and I have my degree. I think it's smart to look at all my options. I think I'm ready mentally and physically to play professionally, here or overseas.''

Hernandez declared for the draft last month but has not hired an agent, which means he has until June 21 -- a week before the draft -- to remove his name and return to school. A two-time all-conference selection, he knows his game doesn't necessarily translate well to the NBA, where quickness and one-on-one skills have far more value than they do in college. There are also questions about his durability. He has a screw in his twice-broken left foot and a cantankerous back that forced him to miss several games the past two seasons.

So far, the feedback from NBA scouts indicates that Hernandez would be, at best, a second-round pick. He hopes to schedule workouts with several teams, including the Warriors, whose coach, Mike Montgomery, recruited Hernandez and coached him for three years on The Farm. (NBA rules prohibit Montgomery from commenting on Hernandez's prospects until May 19.)

``I think people want to see me work out,'' Hernandez said. ``If I do well, my stock will go up.''

Perhaps Hernandez will receive an invitation to the pre-draft camp in Chicago in early June, allowing him to show his stuff against other potential draftees. And perhaps he'll play well enough to earn a training-camp invitation or a roster spot overseas.</div>

Source