Leaving early for Europe

This is the newest trend that will steal away ACC Stars

Dickey gives up senior season to go pro in Ukraine

Georgia Tech center Ra'Sean Dickey has given up his senior season to play professionally in the Ukraine.

Coach Paul Hewitt said Wednesday the 6-foot-10 Dickey signed a contract with Budivelnyk Kiev of the Ukrainian Super League. He redshirted last season to recover from acute tendinitis in his right knee and had a year of eligibility remaining.

"Ra'Sean and his family have decided that the time is right for him to begin his professional basketball career, and we wish him all the best," Hewitt said.

Dickey played in 89 games over three seasons, averaging 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 60.1 percent from the field. His best season was 2005-06, when he averaged 13.2 points and 6.8 rebounds.

The Yellow Jackets were 15-17 last season, including 7-9 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Too Young for NBA?

Looks like we are quickly going from a year where almost everyone comes back to the ACC, to a whole lot of people testing the waters.

Tech's Young enters draft, won't hire agent

By MATT WINKELJOHN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/24/07

Thaddeus Young has made himself eligible for the NBA draft, but the Georgia Tech freshman is keeping open his option to return to the Yellow Jackets.

Young averaged 14.4 points and 4.9 rebounds last season, and will not hire an agent to protect his right to withdraw from the draft by June 18. The draft is June 29.

Upon filing for the draft, the 6-foot-8 small forward is allowed to consult NBA officials before making a decision on whether to hire an agent, which would end his NCAA eligibility.

"What we're trying to do is get a more definitive idea where he'll shake out," Tech coach Paul Hewitt said. "Because of the way the NBA rules are set up, he nor his family could talk to anybody [in the NBA] unless he puts his name in. Now he can find out for sure what's what."

"I think the way he's conducting himself, he's planning on being in school unless somebody tells him something that could really change his mind."

Young's freshman teammate, point guard Javaris Crittenton, has until Sunday to decide whether to enter the draft. Hewitt said he has not made a decision. More...

Tampa, Best Tournament Ever?

OK, too soon to proclaim something like that, but wow, what a day of basketball, topped off by Wake over GaTech in double overtime.

I'll post my impressions of Tampa and more about what the scene is like as soon as time and the need for sleep allows.

I finally saw the reply on the Clemson foul that gave FSU the win. Much like the Duke timing error, who knows if Clemson would have gone on to win the game in OT, but it sure sucks that two officiating errors kept us from finding out.

Tickets are everywhere. I paid $35 for lower level to session #1 (Face is $66). For the night session I paid $10 for a really bad upstairs seat, then walked down to behind the State bench.

If we can see 4 upsets on Friday, I'll vote to bring the ACC Tournament back to Tampa next year.