Saturday, July 09, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Three prep stars graduate to pros

Trio play LV again in NBA summer league

By STEVE CARP
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Portland forward Martell Webster, the sixth pick in last month's NBA Draft, dunks Friday as Andris Biedrins of the Golden State Warriors watches in an NBA Vegas Summer League game at Cox Pavilion. The Trail Blazers won the game, 90-74. Photo by K.M. Cannon. Golden State's Monta Ellis, left, fights for position with Portland's Martell Webster on Friday in a Vegas Summer League game. Photo by K.M. Cannon. Boston's Gerald Green shoots over Dallas' Felipe Lopez in a game Friday at Cox Pavilion. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

Martell Webster, Monta Ellis and Gerald Green played basketball for free a year ago in Las Vegas. The three young stars were back in town Friday and were being well compensated for their services.

Webster, a 6-foot-7-inch forward from Seattle Prep, was the No. 6 pick overall in last month's NBA Draft by Portland.

Green, a 6-8 forward from Gulf Shores Academy in Houston, was taken by the Boston Celtics with the 18th overall pick.

Ellis, a 6-3 guard from Lanier High in Jackson, Miss., went to Golden State at No. 40 in the second round.

Webster and Green each will make seven figures as rookies, and Ellis will earn six figures. Exact salary slots for next season have yet to be calculated under the league's new collective bargaining agreement.

All three believed they could play at the highest level and now are getting a chance to prove it in the NBA's Vegas Summer League.

Green got off to a strong start Thursday with 14 points in 15 minutes, including an electrifying dunk over the Los Angeles Clippers' Mark Bortz in the second quarter of Boston's 76-59 win. But Green struggled Friday against Dallas, scoring eight points on 3-for-10 shooting in the Celtics' 77-73 win over the Mavericks.

"I haven't been playing as well as I can," said Green, who played in the Big Time Tournament last year in Las Vegas and turned down a scholarship to Oklahoma State to turn pro. "In high school, I was playing with boys. Here, I'm playing against men. It's a lot different.

"But I felt I was ready. After I played in the McDonald's game, I felt like I had to go."

Boston executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge likes what he has seen from Green so far.

"We knew he had quickness and could run and jump," Ainge said. "What I like is the way he's competing. He was out there with some real NBA players and I thought he played very well."

The Celtics had success last season drafting another prep star, Al Jefferson, but Ainge said that didn't influence their decision to pick Green.

"You have to take each kid on a case-by-case basis," Ainge said. "We felt Gerald had some skills that translated to the NBA level, but we don't need to rely on him right away. We can bring him along slowly and let him develop. What role Gerald will have will depend on him."

The Warriors -- with Baron Davis and Derek Fisher in their backcourt -- can also afford to take things slowly with Ellis. He hurt his knee during his senior season, which might have affected his draft status.

"He's got really good range," assistant coach Mario Elie said of Ellis, who played in the Big Time Tournament last summer. "We think he can help us down the road."

Ellis thought he'd go in the first round like Webster and Green. Even though he slipped into the second round, Ellis said he doesn't feel he made a mistake in skipping college after committing to Mississippi State.

"I know I'm better than a lot of the players they picked, so I just have to work hard," said Ellis, who faced Webster on Friday and scored 15 points in Golden State's 90-74 loss to the Trail Blazers. "People were making a story about my knee, but I knew I was fine."

Going to the Warriors will be a positive, Ellis said, even though he'll probably make the NBA minimum.

"It's going to be a great situation for me to play behind a great player like Baron Davis, who I can learn a lot from," Ellis said. "But it's a big adjustment. I'm used to playing against guys my size. But I'm still going to play my game."

Webster had committed to play college ball at Washington. But like Green and Ellis, he decided to leave his name in for the draft, especially when everyone was telling him he'd be a top-10 pick.

"Once I made my decision, I stuck with it," said Webster, who followed up his 21-point effort Wednesday against New York with 15 against the Warriors on Friday. "A year ago when I played here (in Las Vegas at the Main Event), I definitely wasn't thinking about the NBA. But it was a steady progression during my senior year at Seattle Prep. By the time I played in the all-star games and played in the Jordan Classic, I thought seriously about putting my name in."

Green said the trio did the right thing by turning pro.

"I don't think any one of us regrets not going (to college)," Green said. "All three of us are truly blessed to be in this position."