THE LATEST LINE: NBA DRAFT BECAME A KID SHOW

Youth was definitely served during the 2001 National Basketball Association draft. In fact, the upper part of the selection process resembled a high school prom more than it did a gathering of future millionaires.

But make no mistake about it. Those peach-fuzzed young men who were paraded on stage are going to be quite rich.

It's a seller's market in pro hoops these days and the high schoolers have what the NBA wants -- enormous potential and raw physical skills, even if they haven't come close to proving themselves yet.

A record five prep players were drafted Wednesday night, including the top two picks and four of the first eight selections.

Based on how others have fared in recent years by going directly from high school to the pros -- Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady, just to name a few -- you can't really blame NBA teams for choosing youth over experience.

And it's hard to blame those high school kids who are assured of being lottery picks for coming out. Sure, college is great. But the chance for a young man -- who more than likely grew up with very little -- to set himself and his family up financially for life?

To me, it's a no-brainer. If I was in that situation, I wouldn't hesitate in picking big bucks over a diploma, the latter being something I could eventually obtain anyway if I really wanted to. And I think most people would agree with me.

* The Ohio Valley Conference probably opened plenty of eyes during the NBA draft as two league players were among the 58 selections.

Austin Peay guard Trenton Hassell, who had been regarded as a possible first-round selection, was the first pick of the second round as he went 30th overall. Eastern Illinois guard Kyle Hill was taken 44th overall.

Having two players drafted is quite a feather in the OVC's cap and should help boost the conference's overall recruiting because, even if most players who come into the league are professional longshots, all young athletes want to think they have at least a chance of advancing to the next level.

One more quick comment on the OVC draftees: I don't know how good a chance Hill has of making it in the NBA, but I predict the multi-talented Hassell -- who can flat do it all -- will not only last a long time in the league, he'll end up being a very good player and perhaps even an all-star.

* SEMO's men's basketball program held the first of its two summer high school team camps last week, with 50 squads taking part. While several of the teams were very good, Division I recruits are generally few and far between in those kinds of camps.

But two solid D-I prospects -- 6-4 swingman Dana Ford of nearby Egyptian (Ill.) HS and 6-8, 250-pound forward Brian Algee of Herrin (Ill.) HS -- participated and they reportedly both have SEMO high on their list of future prospective colleges.

SIU is also said to be after both players, so a nice recruiting battle between the regional rivals should be in the making.

* The Cape Girardeau Senior Babe Ruth Yankees are having quite a season and they'll host their annual Firecracker Classic Tournament this coming weekend.

The Yankees are made up primarily of players ages 17 and 18.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian