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UNC's McCants Announces He'll Go Pro

Apr 14, 2005

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina's Rashad McCants announced at a news conference Wednesday afternoon that he will enter the NBA draft.

McCants is the first player from the national championship team to announce that he is turning pro early. He says he and head coach Roy Williams began NBA discussions back in January.

"I think me and him both know four years was a stretch and I would love to do so," said McCants, "but financially, and for my parents, and just for my passion of the game to just want to go to the next level, I think this right now is as good as time as any, especially now that we're on top.

Three other Tar Heels -- juniors Sean May and Raymond Felton, and freshman Marvin Williams --- were mum when asked Tuesday night whether they will return to help the team defend its title.

Felton said he had made a decision but is not ready to announce it. Williams said he was leaning one way, and May would not commit to returning for his senior year.

Last week, Roy Williams said he expected McCants to head for the NBA.

If all four underclassmen leave along with seniors Jawad Williams, Jackie Manuel and Melvin Scott, the Tar Heels will lose their top seven scorers from this season's team.

Players who want to enter the NBA draft early must file by May 14. The draft is June 28.

Felton, the speedy point guard who averaged 13 points per game said he and his parents met with coach Williams on Tuesday.

Though Williams said he would spend the next seven to 10 days gathering information on the players' draft prospects, Felton said he had made a decision and would reveal it "probably next week."

"It was difficult, but I think it's what's best for me," Felton said. "It's something I wanted."

Marvin Williams, a 6-foot-9 reserve who averaged 11 points, was mentioned as an NBA draft prospect coming out of high school. He said he plans to meet with his coach Wednesday night.

"I've been back and forth. I think I still am sometimes going back and forth," Williams said. "I think I pretty much have my mind made up, but I'm not sure yet."

The 6-9 May is coming off a tremendous individual run through the NCAA tournament, during which he averaged 22.3 points and 10.7 rebounds while shooting 67 percent.

May said he met with Williams on Monday night.

"If it's a situation where it's an opportunity that I can't turn down, then I might think about it," May said. "But right now, we're just getting the information and looking at it from that standpoint."

May said that his teammates' decisions could influence his plans.

"I would love to come back for my fourth year," May said, "but if it's a situation where I don't feel comfortable and the rest of my teammates do leave, it's an option that I may look at."

Roy Williams hardly had any time to celebrate his first title before attention turned to his underclassmen. Less than a day after the Tar Heels beat Illinois 75-70 for the final, the coach addressed McCants' future by saying, "We could lose some guys, there's no question about that. And we are going to lose Rashad."

On Tuesday night, the coach acknowledged it was unusual to deal with so many possible defections.

"It's part of the coaching process," he said. "You try to advise people and you can't advise them until you get the information and make sure they understand you're with them -- regardless of what the choice is."