Warren defies skeptics once again
Published: 4/17/2009 10:09 AM
Last Modified: 4/17/2009 10:09 AM
There is a flow chart on the NBA Draft Express Web site, showing Willie Warren's mock draft progress from his final season in high school to now. Warren was pegged at No. 61 overall while at Fort Worth North Crowley, which is bad luck considering there are 60 picks in the two-round draft.
By last December, however, Warren had shot up to No. 21. By February, he was No. 15. Then No. 9 about the time Oklahoma began postseason play.
Thursday, the day Warren said he was definitely returning to OU for his sophomore season, he was No. 7, the same place he was slotted on ESPN.com's mock draft board.
Chad Ford, the closest thing I can find to basketball's version of Mel Kiper, had this reaction to Warren's bulletin: "It's an interesting decision. NBA executives were adamant that he was a lock for the Top 10 this year. However, Warren wants to return to school to work on his game outside the large shadow created by Blake Griffin.
"It could be a risky move, especially with blue-chip prospect Tommy Mason-Griffin coming to school. Mason-Griffin is a point guard too, which means Warren may be asked to play off the ball again next year."
It is an interesting decision, and somewhat risky. More than anything, though, it is mature.
Imagine you are Warren and you see that flow chart, and you know that your first million is an announcement away, particuarly when you consider how soft this year's draft really is. You see another freshman, B.J. Mullens, who couldn't even crack Ohio State's starting lineup, headed for the first round.
And still, you do what you said you would all along. Return to school to develop your game, even thrive out of the immense shadow of Blake Griffin. You do the right thing.
Time was, critics who recalled Warren's AAU reputation worried whether he was capable of making that kind of decision. Passages like this one from last January's Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World were the norm:
"Before he arrived in Norman, Warren developed something of an arrogant reputation," Eric Sorrentino wrote. "There’s a popular YouTube clip of one of his dunks in high school, followed by taunting, that did nothing to prove he was humble. Playing for OU coach Jeff Capel, however, has done wonders to quash Warren’s hot-head reputation. There’s no time to show-boat on Capel’s watch."
Has Capel helped with Warren's transition to college? Undoubtedly.
At the same time, decisions like Thursday's show that Warren's maturity curve wasn't nearly as steep as it was once made out to be.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
