KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) -Ronald Steele feels like he has nothing to lose this week at the NBA predraft camp.
He's got two options: Sign with an agent and commit to playing in the NBA next season, or go back to Alabama for one last run with the Crimson Tide.
After missing all of last season because of three knee surgeries, the smooth point guard is back on the court - and sometime in the next two weeks, will make perhaps the biggest decision of his life to date.
``I feel as good as I've ever felt,'' Steele said. ``I'm in the best shape of my life. Just happy to be out here.''
Happy to be pain-free, too.
Steele was a medical redshirt last season, following arthroscopic surgery to relieve tendinitis in both knees after the 2006-07 campaign, plus a follow-up procedure on his left knee last August.
He's since graduated, but retained one last year of eligibility. Some onlookers were mildly surprised at Steele's decision to enter the draft, but he felt he owed it to himself to see if his game is ready for the next level.
``I think it's a good opportunity to come out here, show everybody I'm healthy and try to play well, play hard,'' Steele said.
So far this week, Steele - who averaged 14.3 points two seasons ago as a sophomore - has had moments where it's evident he's worthy of his predraft camp spot. Through two games, Steele is a mere 1-for-7 from the field, but has an 11-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in 49 minutes.
Not too long ago, there was a time, when his knees ached the most, that Steele never thought he'd get this opportunity.
``It was tough, it was tough,'' Steele said. ``But I just kept pushing through it. I have a great family, a great support system, and that really helped me get to where I am now.''
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SAY WHAT?: Michael Beasley's game is certainly NBA-ready, as proven by his 26.2-point, 12.4-rebound averages in his lone season at Kansas State.
His math isn't exactly as good.
Beasley held a 30-minute roundtable interview session Thursday as part of the predraft camp agenda, and the star forward was asked about the perception that the game comes easily to him and that he doesn't have to work hard on the court.
Beasley disagreed, reminding those circled around him that very few people saw the work he did outside of playing games.
``I think anyone who goes into the gym day in and day out and shoots 500, 600 jump shots a night deserves to play a 40-minute game and hit 15,'' Beasley said. ``It's 400 jump shots compared to eight jump shots in a game, that's like 0.1 percent. So that's not real good.''
Not very good math, either.
``But I work hard to make it look easy,'' Beasley added, speaking about his game.
On that point, no one can argue.
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INJURY WATCH: North Carolina's Ty Lawson (hip pointer) did not dress for his team's second game Thursday. Meanwhile, Ohio State's Jamar Butler missed his second straight game with a balky right hamstring.
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HERE AND THERE: Eric Gordon, the sharpshooting guard who left Indiana after one season, said he is ``100 percent now'' after breaking his left wrist in January. He is one of the players invited for physicals and appearances at the predraft camp, but is exempt from drills and scrimmages. ... The camp winds up Friday with three more scrimmages, along with physicals and strength testing. ... Joe Crawford (Kentucky) shot 6-for-11 for the second straight day in scrimmage play, and is averaging 17 points per game so far.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
