Abu among those working out for Celtics who could return to school

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article_body => "WALTHAM, Mass. – N.C. State forward Abdul-Malik Abu isn’t all that different than many young men who, as a child, dreamed of someday playing in the NBA.   The Boston native, in town for a workout with the Celtics, can see the dream shifting towards reality right before his eyes.   But here’s the thing.   He just finished his sophomore season and by not signing with an agent, he can either roll the dice and stay in the draft or go back to the Wolfpack and be among the top players in college basketball next season.   Abu’s plight – to stay or to go – was similar to most of the players Boston brought in for workouts on Wednesday morning.   In addition to Abu, Trevon Bluiett of Xavier (Ohio), Nigel Hayes of Wisconsin and Malik Pope of San Diego State are all contemplating whether to continue towards their NBA dream now or return to campus next season.   Underclassmen who have declared for the draft have until May 25 to pull out of the draft.   “It could go either way,” Abu said of his decision. “I feel I’m really close to my dream. Who’s to say I wouldn’t be able to do the same thing next year? But it’s a win-win for me; I can’t lose. I have a great situation going back to N.C. State. If I can chase my dream and play in the NBA, I wouldn’t have any complaints either.”   Pope said one of the draws to working out for the Celtics was the fact that they had so many draft picks.   “I don’t have an agent,” Pope said, adding, “I’m 50\/50 [on staying in the draft].”   A big part of that process involves the kind of feedback they get from teams like the Celtics.   “They’re just here for feedback,” said Austin Ainge, Boston’s director of player personnel. “We’ve been in communication with their college coaches, talked to them a little bit. Try to give them some honest opinions, try to help them make their decision. It’s a big decision for those kids.”   Nigel Hayes, one of the six players to work out for Boston Wednesday morning, is projected as the 85th-best prospect in this year’s draft, according to Draftexpress.com. At this point, Hayes is more than likely to not be drafted if he doesn’t pull out by May 25.   But the 6-foot-8, 245-pound Hayes is trying to sell the Celtics – and all the teams he’s working out for actually – on his versatility in terms of defending bigs as well as perimeter players.   And when it comes to what it will take to keep him in the draft, the First Team All-Big Ten performer from Wisconsin is pretty succinct in what he’s looking for.   “A team says they want you,” Hayes said. “If someone is going to pay me money to play basketball as opposed to college, that’s something that you really can’t pass up.”  <\/p>\n"
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Celtics

WALTHAM, Mass. – N.C. State forward Abdul-Malik Abu isn’t all that different than many young men who, as a child, dreamed of someday playing in the NBA.

The Boston native, in town for a workout with the Celtics, can see the dream shifting towards reality right before his eyes.

But here’s the thing.

He just finished his sophomore season and by not signing with an agent, he can either roll the dice and stay in the draft or go back to the Wolfpack and be among the top players in college basketball next season.

Abu’s plight – to stay or to go – was similar to most of the players Boston brought in for workouts on Wednesday morning.

In addition to Abu, Trevon Bluiett of Xavier (Ohio), Nigel Hayes of Wisconsin and Malik Pope of San Diego State are all contemplating whether to continue towards their NBA dream now or return to campus next season.

Underclassmen who have declared for the draft have until May 25 to pull out of the draft.

“It could go either way,” Abu said of his decision. “I feel I’m really close to my dream. Who’s to say I wouldn’t be able to do the same thing next year? But it’s a win-win for me; I can’t lose. I have a great situation going back to N.C. State. If I can chase my dream and play in the NBA, I wouldn’t have any complaints either.”

Pope said one of the draws to working out for the Celtics was the fact that they had so many draft picks.

“I don’t have an agent,” Pope said, adding, “I’m 50/50 [on staying in the draft].”

A big part of that process involves the kind of feedback they get from teams like the Celtics.

“They’re just here for feedback,” said Austin Ainge, Boston’s director of player personnel. “We’ve been in communication with their college coaches, talked to them a little bit. Try to give them some honest opinions, try to help them make their decision. It’s a big decision for those kids.”

Nigel Hayes, one of the six players to work out for Boston Wednesday morning, is projected as the 85th-best prospect in this year’s draft, according to Draftexpress.com. At this point, Hayes is more than likely to not be drafted if he doesn’t pull out by May 25.

But the 6-foot-8, 245-pound Hayes is trying to sell the Celtics – and all the teams he’s working out for actually – on his versatility in terms of defending bigs as well as perimeter players.

And when it comes to what it will take to keep him in the draft, the First Team All-Big Ten performer from Wisconsin is pretty succinct in what he’s looking for.

“A team says they want you,” Hayes said. “If someone is going to pay me money to play basketball as opposed to college, that’s something that you really can’t pass up.”