He admits, there is no going back.
Blair signed a marketing and advertising contract with Cook, who will help Blair hire an NBA certified agent later in the process. But by signing a marketing and advertising contract with Cook, Blair is foregoing his final two years of eligibility to turn professional.
As for finding an agent, that will come in time.
“There’s no turning back,” said Blair, who started the news conference by sending his condolences to the three City of Pittsburgh police officers killed in Saturday’s shootings in Stanton Heights.
Blair said he hasn’t signed an agent, “but I will in the next couple weeks.”
“It was more something that I wanted to do more than money and making a big transition for me and my family. It was a real big decision but I had to do what was right for me. Nobody made the decision but me.”
I am naturally more cautious, so I would have preferred that he waited on ending his eligibility. Still, if he’s all-in, then why not. Blair does not seem the type to go halfway. This will give him a chance to really work on skills and with a trainer in the coming months.
Plus, DeJuan Blair actually has charm and enthusiasm that would give him a shot at some marketing opportunities, despite not being a can’t-miss NBA prospect.
I wish him the best.
Here’s hoping the Jazz let Boozer walk, re-up Millsap, and draft DeJuan. Then I wouldn’t dislike anyone on the team! And they’d have my favorite (okay, co-favorite with Sam Young) player in the league.
I guess more realistically, Sam might fit for the Jazz at the end of the first round, giving them some grit behind CJ Miles. If DeJuan could pump up his stock, and the Warriors get leapt by a few teams in the lottery, they could take him at 10, and I could see him play every night. That would be kinda cool.
Time to hit the recruiting trail hard Mr. Dixon. Let’s plug those holes!
As for Pitt, if he was going to go, it works out best for the team that he goes “all in” now. This will free up his scholarship and allow Dixon to make a run at another player for next year, if he so chooses.
Next season is going to be a very interesting season…
Blair feeds of being the underdog…. I wish him all the best.. and rep Pitt in the NBA along with Young.
Would like to see: more of Siena, they’re a legitimate team. Offer them 2 for 1. I understand that going up there would be rough, but they just inked Fran M to a long-term deal. They could be the next Xavier/Gonzaga. A crappy ACC team (there are oodles to choose from) like NC State. A renewal of the PSU rivalry. Temple on the schedule, so we can go play in Philly more and work the contacts there. And Manhattan, not only because of their coach, but also their location.
Not saying final four or anything, but I also dont think they will fall to 18-16 or the like.
Aaron Berry, take some notes
Time to move on to the Frozen Four.
Good luck to Blair. I may start watching the NBA now!
I found this comment bit disconcerting. He’ll likely be a first-round pick, but nothing in life is guaranteed.
You played with passion and the love of the game and PITT!
Just hope you or Sam get drafted by the Blazers!
Hail to PITT!
-al-
I mean, there’s no chance we’re going to be a #1 or #2 seed, but there’s no reason why we can’t be in the top 5-6 from the Big East, which should be enough to guarantee a NCAA bid. Dante Taylor looks like he could be a beast.
The only thing that sucks for this program is the current lack of scholarships for the next couple years. Coming off an Elite 8 appearance, our recruiting should get a tremendous boost…but unfortunately, we only have one scholarship remaining for either this year or the 2009-2010 class. I’d love to bring in Coleman, but I’d be wary of not being able to recruit anyone else from the 2009-2010 class.
Hopefully for Pitt, if any of the current group fail to develop, they will see the writing on the wall in terms of playing time and will choose to go elsewhere to start.
With Blair leaving early and being drafted in the first round (probable) and if Sam Young goes first round (possible) – combined with Dixon winning COY honors, PITT has just about the best advertising possible for near future recruiting.
Gee, who wouldn’t want to play for a guy that not only wins games but send 2/5ths of his starting team to the NBA for big paychecks.
I would guess PITT BB will recede a bit from this season’s final standings, but would be shocked if they didn’t still have an exciting and fulfilling year next season. Dixon is too good a HC to tank a year.
I see parallels of family interference in the decisions of Shady and DeJuan going pro. You may remember that Shady delayed his decision, and I will always believe he was the one who wanted to stay but was being pushed by everyone else to leave. DeJuan is obviously intent on going pro but the immediate signing of the marketing deal with a family attorney reaks of family pressure in that it seals the deal, and there is no going back.
Note that this is just my assessment from afar, and hopefully it is the best for both of them, and wish them nothing but success. And also, as previously mentioned, Coach Dixon can now go forward to pan for next year knowing exactly what he has to work with … and if that involves bringing someone else in, so be it.
I don’t mean for this to sound like a rag session on Lane. In some areas, he was more skilled than Blair. Certainly, he could play above the rim, and he was also a better ball handler than Blair. That being said, I always felt that Lane could have been really great if he had worked at it.
