Much to his credit, Hakim Warrick has never been one to rush decisions.

‘He even decided about going to Syracuse at the last minute,’ said Warrick’s mother, Queen Warrick. ‘It was between Providence and Syracuse, and he didn’t know what he was going to do until the last minute. That’s just Hakim.’

Warrick, a junior third-team All-America forward on the Syracuse men’s basketball team, has until May 10 to decide whether or not he’ll declare for the NBA draft. And he might just need all that time. Warrick has yet to show any indication of whether he’ll stay at SU or leave for the NBA, Queen said Monday evening.

As of Monday night, he still hadn’t even discussed the issue of leaping to the NBA with his mother.

‘I’m going to try to sit down soon and talk to him about it,’ Queen said. ‘He was going to come home for Easter, but that didn’t happen. He still hasn’t talked about it.’

While Warrick still hasn’t decided, it’s likely he’ll only enter the draft if he’s sure to be chosen in the first round, ensuring a guaranteed contract.

‘He’s done well by Syracuse, even if he decides to leave now,’ said Kino Terrell, Warrick’s high school coach at Friends Central in Wynnewood, Penn. ‘That decision will be based on who comes out and where he’s projected. If he slides to high first round or early second, I think he’ll return.

‘I’m not saying he said that, but I think it’s the logical way to look at it.’

A mock draft on ESPN.com did not have Warrick projected as a lottery pick, and nbadraft.net projected Warrick as the 20th selection. NBA scouts are not at liberty to discuss Warrick’s prospects since he’s an underclassman and has yet to declare for the NBA draft.

If Warrick does make the leap, he wants to make sure he’s 100 percent ready, Queen said. ‘Money is a factor, but it won’t be the deciding factor,’ Terrell said.

Neither will grades. One of the reasons Warrick hasn’t been home, Queen said, is because he’s been concentrating on his studies. He’s ahead of schedule academically for a junior thanks to taking classes over the summer, Terrell said.

Warrick planned to complete his undergraduate degree in three years and work for his masters in his fourth year, but trying out for the United States national team last summer delayed that, Terrell said.

So Warrick is set with grades. But will he be graded by a professor or a coach this time next year? Well, don’t hold your breath.

‘It’s going to be a big decision,’ Queen said. ‘If he decides to leave, we want to make sure he’s really ready to take that next step. It’s a business decision.’

Published on April 14, 2004 at 12:00 pm