USD Men's Basketball 2003-2004 West Coast Conference

STICHING RROUNDcoNTINUED Now, he was acknowledging that it was Ridnour, Louisville's Reece Gaines, Texas' about him, or at least would be for the next T.J. Ford and a whole passel of international few months. "That's what I felt like at the players who had created a sensation among time," Nelson says.

personnel executives. To find out his true worth, he turned to head coach Phil Martelli and a close cadre of family advisors. They polled various team representatives and scouts to find out what Nelson could expect on draft day. The verdict was hazy. Nelson might sneak into the bottom of the first round. Or, he could become one of those second-round steals (think Gilbert Arenas) who could make an eventual impact but wouldn't make big money up front. "Part of me wanted to take a chance, but I wanted to stay smart," Nelson says. In the end, the smart play was to return to Saint Joseph's. Nelson will be revered this season by fans and local media, as much for his four-year commitment as for his stellar play. He has already ascended to an ethereal place on campus. During the school year's first weeks, while in the library, Nelson found himself in the sights of a gaggle of freshmen who were

No one could blame him for feeling as if he were under intense scrutiny. Not only would he be submitting his entire basketball self to the cold reality of NBA evaluation, he would also be sending Hawks fans on amonth-long emotional seesaw. With Nelson, Saint Joseph's could be apre– season top-10team with some serious second– weekend NCAA tourney hopes. Without him, the Hawks would be an NCAA contender but more likely an NIT participant. Add in the hopes and dreams of thousands in Nelson's basketball– crazy hometown of Chester, Pa., where the round ball is often the only distraction from crime and broken dreams, and one could understand why Nelson feltthe need to getsome emphatic ink done. Nelson arrived in Chicago for the final pre-draft showcase already carrying a strike against him. "I had heard people in the NBA say I was too small," he says. At6-0 (maybe), Nelson is ashade below the

"I STILL HAVE GOALS TO ACCOMPLISH FOR MY TERM" St. Joseph's point guard Jameer Nelson

"WHEN I STEPPED BACH ONTO CAMPUS, PEOPLE WERE HAPPY TO SEE ME." Notre Dame point guard Chris Thomas

atwitter at happening upon the school's big star. Nelson smiled politely at his admirers but would have preferred to be anonymous. In his mind, he's just a college student (one who'll graduate in the spring with a degree in sociology) with some work to do. "It's tough to put adream on hold, but at the same time, I have something to finish here," Nelson says. "If I didn't have that, I wouldn't be happy with my decision." Thomas is only a junior, so it's possible he might have to go through the entire process again next summer. Then again, if he follows the pro scouts' orders, he may well be giving up the col– legiate life he enjoys so much after the coming season. The key to it all is how well Thomas embraces the primary responsibilities of his position. Unlike Nelson, who is a consummate point man and manages agame with few flaws, Thomas is more of acreator-for his teammates and himself. CONTINUED

optimal point guard dimensions. But he quickly proved that he belonged with everybody there. Nelson showed he could run ateam and distribute, the two parts of his job description that he has handled with tremendous success at Saint Joseph's. Nelson also hit enough shots to shake some of the doubts about that part of his game. It was astrong performance. "I always felt I belonged out there," Nelson says. "At times, it got a little physical, and we as college players aren't used to that amount of banging." Nelson had accomplished his first step. The NBA had seen him play against draft– quality competition and couldn't have helped but be impressed. Now came the hard part. Nelson would have to collect information and assess whether he had made a significant enough impact to jump into the first round of a draft that included more highly regarded (but not necessarily more talented) point men, such as Kansas' Kirk Hinrich, Oregon's Luke

With Jameer Nelson back in the fold, St. Joseph's instantly became the favorite in the Atlantic-1O and have a chance to do some damage in the NCAA Tournament.

COLLEGE HOOPS ILLUSTRATED