BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

What Danny Fortson had to do and what he wanted to do failed to coincide, which made this circumstance a fine introduction to the working world. He faced an obvious decision, just not an easy one.

Throughout his junior season with the Cincinnati Bearcats, Fortson talked openly among his teammates about his intention to enterthis June's NBA draft and forego his final year of college basketball eligibility. Talking about it and thinking about it proved to be entirely different.

''He came in two weeks ago and said, 'I don't want to go because I don't want to leave you guys. I want you guys to win,' '' Bearcats coach Bob Huggins said. ''I had to explain, 'We won before you came, and we'll probably win after you leave.' That's not part of the equation.''

A 6-foot-7, 265-pound All-American power forward, Fortson concluded the most logical move was to enter the draft, to be held June 25. Draft analysts predict he will be among the top dozen players chosen, though scouts have voiced concern about his height.

''I just feel that I'm ready. I know I can play,'' Fortson said. ''I got a great deal of confidence from playing with Coach Huggins. You know what type of person I am. I'm not scared. I can do it.''

Fortson averaged 21.4 points and 9.1 rebounds and was named Conference USA player of the year as a junior. He led UC to a 26-8 record but faced swarming defenses that limited his access to the ball.

''When you look at how much he scored and how many rebounds he got per minute, it's unbelievable,'' Huggins said.

The deadline for declaring draft eligibility is May 11 at 11:59 p.m. Fortson could choose to rescind his decision as long as he does not sign with an agent. But Fortson has no intention of changing his mind.

As a sophomore, Fortson might have entered the draft after averaging 20.1 points and 9.6 rebounds, but he chose to play one more season under Huggins and pursue a national title. It eluded UC, but Fortson claims he gained maturity.

Though he campaigned in the media for officials to call fewer fouls on him and more on opponents, Fortson displayed better sportsmanship in games, Huggins said.

                              Avg  Avg  Avg
Year     G   FG-Att   FT-Att  Reb  Ast  Pts  
1994-95 34  190-355  134-196  7.6  1.1  15.1 
1995-96 33  222-413  220-292  9.5  1.4  20.1 
1996-97 33  243-392  217-281  9.1  1.1  21.3 
Career 100  655-1160 571-769  8.7  1.2  18.8 

RECRUITING TAKES ON URGENCY
WOODEN SELECTORS SPURN FORTSON

Postseason

FORTSON LEAPS TO NBA April 1, 1997

BEST GUESS: FORTSON'S GONE, AND HUGGINS COULD GO, TOO March 17, 1997

NCAA Tournament stories

MARCH 16, 1997
IOWA STATE 67, UC 66
UC LOSS NOT ALL SURPRISING Daugherty column
BRANNEN BECOMES SCORER

MARCH 15, 1997
IDENTITY CHECK FOR UC
IOWA STATE GETS ASSISTS FROM HOLLOWAY

MARCH 14, 1997
UC 80, BUTLER 69
IOWA STATE IS TALL ORDER
20 MINUTES ENOUGH FOR UC THIS TIME Daugherty column

MARCH 13, 1997
UC'S FORTUNES HINGE ON FORTSON
NCAA LETTER LED TO WILLIAMS INQUIRY
WILLIAMS PUNISHED BEFORE TRIAL Daugherty column
HUGGINS TO OSU? A COMMON QUERY

MARCH 12,1997
GUARD PROBLEMS PLAGUE BEARCATS
HUGGINS QUOTES GILLEN ON OSU JOB

MARCH 11, 1997
FORTSON ALL-AMERICAN
WILLIAMS PREPARES TO START
MARSHALL HAS THE MUSCLE TO CHECK FORTSON

MARCH 10, 1997
UC, XU ON COLLISION COURSE IN SWEET 16
LET FORTSON PLAY, REFS - IT'S HIS TIME Daugherty column
OPPONENT DOESN'T MATTER TO BEARCATS
BUTLER ROSTER HAS LOCAL FLAVOR