OSU's Redd Entering NBA Draft

March 20, 2000 / 7:20 PM EST / CBS/AP

Ohio State junior Michael Redd is not among those who doubt his ability to make it in the NBA.

Disdaining a chance to become the Buckeyes' career scoring leader, Redd said Tuesday that he would skip his senior season and make himself eligible for the NBA draft in June.

Redd, who averaged 17.3 points and 6.5 rebounds a game last season, said he reached his decision three weeks ago.

"No doubts," the 6-foot-6 Redd said. "Totally confident. If I had any doubts I'd say, plain and simple. If I thought I was going to be second round or late first round or whatever, I definitely would have stayed. But I have all the confidence in the world that my stock will go up."

Many scouts and NBA officials he spoke with told him the best he could expect was to be taken in the middle to late first round. But he said he intended to improve his position in tryouts and camps.

Redd's decision capped a busy week for Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien. O'Brien learned late last week that the NCAA had granted another year of eligibility to 6-11 senior center Ken Johnson, who led the nation in blocked shots last season.

Now the Buckeyes will be without their leading scorer.

"I'm thrilled Ken's coming back while I'm disappointed for us, selfishly, that Michael's not coming back," O'Brien said. "But this is a terrific day for a kid to be leaving in his position."

Redd said his decision was final. He said there was no basis for recent speculation that he would not sign with an agent so he could later withdraw before the draft if he did not like his NBA prospects.

"I'm sticking with my decision," Redd said. "The decision was thought out carefully."

Redd ranks fifth on Ohio State's career scoring list, only 217 points behind leader Dennis Hopson's 2,096 points. Had he matched his career scoring average of 19.6 points a game, Redd would have passed Hopson by midseason.

O'Brien never tried to talk Redd into staying.

"It's a no-brainer," O'Brien said. "I think he's doing the right thing. I had my doubts early on, but after speaking to him it became clear that he is sure that this is the right thing for him to do."

Redd will have to play shooting guard and point guard in the NBA, although he's more of a swingman who likes to slash through the lane on drives.

"They liked my size, they liked my quickness for my size," Redd said the scouts told him. "The negative thing is shooting. They want me to be more consistent on that."