Marquette's James to enter draft



CHICAGO -- Marquette sophomore guard Dominic James is expected to enter his name onto the NBA draft's early entry list, a source close to the process said Saturday.

James has plans to meet with his coach, Tom Crean, this week on campus in Milwaukee to finalize his decision, but he seems determined to judge his draft status between now and the June 28 draft.

A 5-foot-11 guard, James is a fleet, end-to-end player, but his shooting percentages last season are cause for concern with NBA teams. His performance declined over the course of the Golden Eagles' 24-10 campaign,CTR360 Maestri II FG, dipping to a 38-percent field-goal percentage, including 27 percent on three-pointers.

To keep his name in the draft, James wants to hear that he'll be chosen in the first round, but unless he makes a dramatic impression at the Orlando pre-draft camp in May and private workouts, that prospect appears to be unlikely.

One Eastern Conference NBA scout who watched James courtside several times last season said,Predator XI TF, "He started off well,Mercurial Superfly II Elite, but he really struggled in the second half of the season. The kid is a prospect down the line, but I think he really needs to stay in school."

James has a chance to return to an excellent Marquette team, a potential preseason top-20 club with serious NCAA tournament possibilities. Underclassmen have until April 29 to submit their names to the league office. James could withdraw his name anytime up until the draft on June 18.