ELEY SEEKS ANSWERS AT NBA PRE-DRAFT CAMP; SE CENTER TO ATTEND CAMP NEXT WEEK

Even though Bud Eley spent most of the 1997-98 Southeast Missouri State University basketball season on the injured list, he was certainly not a forgotten man in the eyes of the National Basketball Association.

Eley, the Indians' 6-foot-10, 260-pound all-Ohio Valley Conference center, is in the final days of preparation for the NBA pre-draft camp that will be held Tuesday through Sunday in Chicago.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Eley. "I'll be able to see where I stack up against some of the top players in the nation."

According to Chris Ekstrand, who is the editor of the NBA draft guide, only about 60 players who are considered potential selections for the two-round NBA draft have been invited to the camp.

Ekstrand said that Eley, despite the fact he played in only 11 games this past season due to injuries, is an intriguing player because of his size and various skills.

"With a player in his situation, where he played so few games (last season) and he wasn't in one of the so-called power conferences, a camp like this will obviously be important for him," Ekstrand said. "He's a guy with good size and obviously that's always intriguing."

Eley is in something of a unique situation because, as a partial academic qualifier when he enrolled at Southeast four years ago, he is eligible to play a fourth and final season with the Indians as long as he graduates this summer, which he is on schedule to do.

Eley has declared himself for the NBA draft that will be held June 24, but as long as he does not hire an agent, he has until June 17 to withdraw his name from the draft, thus allowing him to retain his eligibility at Southeast.

NBA draft experts have told Eley that, as things stand now, he would be a likely second-round pick. No contracts are guaranteed for second-round selections, meaning those picks have to make the team in order to receive substantial payment.

However, with quality big men always in high demand, a strong showing in Chicago this week could elevate Eley's stock to potential first-round status, where players automatically sign guaranteed three-year contracts.

Right now, Eley says he's likely to come back to Southeast to play one more season next year. But he's also anxious to see what happens in Chicago.

"It just all depends on what my status is," he said. "I'll definitely know after the camp.

"I've been told I will go in the second round and if that's what they keep telling me (after the camp), I'll definitely come back (to Southeast). But if they told me I would probably go in the first round, then I'll have a tough decision."

Eley averaged 15 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 11 games this past season.

Two years ago, Eley averaged 17.9 points and 10.3 rebounds in earning first-team all-OVC honors. He averaged 17.3 points and 9.6 rebounds three years ago to make second-team all-OVC.

Eley was forced to sit out his freshman season under NCAA Proposition 48 rules as a partial academic qualifier.

Eley ranks first in school history for career blocked shots (104) while rating eighth in rebounds (645) and 10th in points (1,166).

Ekstrand said the pre-draft camp consists of a variety of drills, physical testing and also three days of games where the players are divided into about eight teams.

Eley, who has been working out recently in his home town of Detroit with a personal trainer, is anxious to show the NBA what he's got.

"I've been hearing a lot of positive things about the situation I'm in. I think they (the NBA people) have a lot of faith in me because I only played in 11 games this year and they still invited me to this camp," he said. "I think I play my best against tough competition, so I'm looking forward to seeing how I do."

Following the camp, Eley plans to return to Cape Girardeau for summer school in order to finish up his degree in criminal justice.

And not long after he returns to Cape, Eley will have to make the big decision regarding his basketball future -- whether to turn pro or play another season with the Indians.