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| | Thursday, April 13 | |||||
| AMES, Iowa -- Marcus Fizer decided he could do more for his
family as a rookie in the NBA than as a senior at Iowa State.
Fizer, an All-America who led the Cyclones to their best season
ever, announced Monday he would skip his final college season and
make himself eligible for the NBA draft.
"I really think this is the time I can do all the things I've
always wanted to do for my family," said Fizer, who is engaged and
has two children.
"I have a heart where everyone in my family is within it. It's
going to be a comfortable feeling to know that I will have a chance
to help all of them."
His announcement was no surprise.
Fizer's NBA stock rose throughout the season as he followed one
big game with another in leading Iowa State to the Big 12 regular
season and tournament championships. The 6-foot-8, 265-pound
forward is projected to be one of the top picks in the June 28
draft.
"The timing's right," Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy said.
"He's certainly a lottery pick."
Fizer has not hired an agent and said he was leaving open the
possibility of returning to Iowa State next season if he felt that
would improve his position in the draft.
Eustachy was not counting on that happening.
"He's not coming back," Eustachy said. "It's just hard for
him to tell everybody this is it."
Fizer averaged 22.8 points and 7.7 rebounds and shot 58 percent
from the field as Iowa State set a school record for victories in
finishing 32-5. The Cyclones' season ended with a 75-64 loss to
eventual national champion Michigan State in the Midwest Regional
final.
Eustachy said it became clear as the season progressed that
Fizer was ready for the NBA. When the two met to discuss Fizer's
options for next season, Eustachy said he encouraged his star to
turn pro.
"Really at the beginning of the year I thought Marcus would be
back," Eustachy said. "I didn't think he'd make so much progress.
But he worked so hard and became such a force.
"I thought the turning point in his season was when he
struggled against Drake and we really, really challenged him. Then
he found out he could play right with Kenyon Martin in the
Cincinnati game. I think he just kept making progress from then on
out."
Fizer scored 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting in a 75-60 loss to
Cincinnati on Nov. 28 in the championship game of the Big Island
Invitational. Martin, the national player of the year, scored 22
points in that game and was the only player to receive more votes
for the All-America team.
"Selfishly, we'd love to have him back," Eustachy said. "I'd
look like a much better coach. But it's not the right thing to do.
The right thing for him to do is move on. I'm behind him all the
way."
Fizer said he was grateful for Eustachy's support. The two shook
hands and embraced as they traded places on the podium at Monday's
news conference.
"I really didn't know what to expect when I met with him when
he and I had our talks," Fizer said. "When he told me he was
encouraging me to go for the draft, that he thinks the time is now,
it really touched my heart to see this guy is putting me before his
own interests and his needs."
Fizer's guardians, Robert and Sheila Frazier, attended the news
conference, along with his fiancee, Anysha Ticer, and his daughter,
Arae.
"It's amazing to see him come this far," Sheila Frazier said.
"I had no idea he could get to this level. I always worked on
Marcus' character. His dad worked on his sport." | ALSO SEE Fizer hires agent -- there's no turning back Marcus Fizer video highlights Early-entry candidates for NBA draft AUDIO/VIDEO   Marcus Fizer talks about entering the 2000 NBA draft.wav: 195 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 ESPN.com's Andy Katz discusses Marcus Fizer's decision.wav: 130 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6  | |||||