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Pitt's Gibbs to make decision on future in 'a week or so'
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Pitt guard Ashton Gibbs.
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Pitt junior guard Ashton Gibbs will decide between entering the NBA draft and returning to school without working out for the league's coaches and general managers, his father said Wednesday.
Temple Gibbs said Ashton, a two-year starter for the Panthers and one of the top 3-point shooters in NCAA Division I, will make his decision in "a week or so." That time frame is well before the May 8 deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from the draft.
Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said Tuesday afternoon that he encouraged Ashton to take part in a two-day workout May 7-8 in New Jersey, where he would be evaluated and receive feedback from NBA scouts about his draft stock. Dixon said he expected Gibbs to wait until the May 8 deadline before making a decision.
Late Tuesday night, an Internet report surfaced that referenced a text message from Gibbs stating that he was staying in the draft.
The report in Zagsblog reported the text message read: "I feel I can play at the NBA level. I'm looking forward to the challenge. When I entered the Draft, I entered to work my hardest to get drafted."
Temple Gibbs disputed the report.
"It's not true," he said.
"I don't know where he got that. We're considering the draft and school equally. I don't really have comment on that other than to say it's not true."
Temple Gibbs said, however, that Ashton will not wait for feedback from NBA coaches and general managers because "there's not enough time."
Underclassmen who take part in the New Jersey workout would receive feedback from NBA personnel and then be forced to make a decision that same day.
Gibbs declared for the NBA draft earlier this month and hoped to work out for teams, but he has not been scouted by any of the 30 NBA teams in a workout setting.
First Published April 21, 2011 1:09 am
