Despite rumors and reports to the contrary, Maryland coach Gary Williams said that star guard Steve Francis has yet to decide if he'll play in the NBA next season.
The two met Monday night for an hour, and yesterday Williams said that an announcement regarding Francis' future would probably come next week, after the Final Four.
Since the day last April when Francis announced that he would attend Maryland, there was speculation that he would spend just one season with the Terps. A second-team All-American, Francis is rated one of the nation's best point guard prospects, and several NBA general managers say he would be a top-five pick if he were to pass on his senior season.
"Steve is like any other player in this situation; he's going over both sides, whether to stay or leave," Williams said. "He's going to make the decision that's best for him. His last statement was that he was going to stay [at Maryland], but that can change. Whatever happens, he's not going to announce anything until next week."
After Francis signed with Maryland last spring out of Allegany College, he kept Williams waiting, as he considered turning pro right out of junior college. In January, Francis denied a report that he had already told Williams the 1998-99 season would be it for him at Maryland, and after the Terps' last home game, he said he was "99.9 percent" certain he would return.
Francis could not be reached for comment. Before Francis met with Williams, his brother Terry said "he hadn't heard anything out of his mouth at all," regarding his future.
The rumor mill is spinning so quickly, Williams said he would be a guest on the Don Imus nationally syndicated radio show this morning, to answer questions that Francis had already chosen a firm to represent him.
"He [Imus] said his sources know the management firm, and I know that's not true," Williams said. "It's amazing, the things that have been said about Steve.
"He's got a lot of things to think about. Each player's financial situation is different. We're talking about a situation where you can be set, take care of a lot of people. My job is not to just give him the Maryland side, but also to give him the NBA side."
Francis averaged 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.8 steals while playing out of position for the Terps.
"I want Steve to come back," Williams said after Maryland was eliminated from the NCAA tournament. "It would concern me if he left. I was concerned when Joe Smith left [in 1995]. You just don't get a Steve Francis every year."
Collegians with remaining eligibility have until May 16 to declare for the NBA draft, which will be held June 30 at the MCI Center.
If Francis were to leave and Maryland suffered no unexpected academic problems or transfers, Williams would have nine scholarship players lined up for next season. The Terps signed three prospects last fall, but the incoming freshman class could grow during next month's signing period.
Maryland is among the schools courting DerMarr Johnson, a 6-9 forward from Maine Central Institute, and Reece Gaines, a 6-5 guard from Madison, Wis. Johnson, who spent several seasons in the Washington area, is regarded as one of the nation's top available prospects. He scored 19 points in the McDonald's All-American game last night in Ames, Iowa, and could go directly to the NBA.
Louisville, Michigan and Wisconsin are the other finalists for Gaines, whose father played for Lake Clifton High in the mid-1970s. Pub Date: 3/25/99