Kenny Satterfield. (Craig Ruttle photos) | ZOOM |

        University of Cincinnati sophomore Kenny Satterfield told coach Bob Huggins on Friday that he is declaring himself eligible for the NBA draft and giving up his final two years of college eligibility.

        The 6-foot-2 point guard did the same thing last year but pulled his name out of consideration. He will not be able to do that again. NCAA rules allow underclassmen to officially declare for the draft and change their minds just once.

        “We certainly wish Kenny good luck,” Huggins said in a statement released by the university. “I hope that this is in Kenny's best interests and that he made the right decision.”

        Huggins refused to comment further. Satterfield could not be reached. He averaged 14.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists this past season and was third-team all-Conference USA.

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        Letters from underclassmen to the NBA have to be postmarked by May 13. Twenty-three college underclassmen and high school players have declared their eligibility for the NBA draft.

        ESPN.com projects Satterfield as a “late first to second round” pick. Chris Monter of Monterdraftnews.com said Satterfield would probably go late first round, in the No. 20-28 range. If that happened, he would earn approximately $620,400 to $815,500 in his first year, according to the 2001-02 NBA rookie pay scale. Only first-round draft picks are assured of guaranteed contracts.

        Monter rates Satterfield as the No. 2 point guard in the draft, behind Iowa State's Jamaal Tinsley. Omar Cook of St. John's is expected to leave early and would be rated ahead of Satterfield, Monter said.

        Satterfield's decision may have come as a surprise to Huggins. He had been attending classes, individual workouts and conditioning and playing pick-up games with UC teammates until April 20. Satterfield left

        town during this past week and was said to be contemplating whether to declare for the draft.

        Teammates were not surprised that he did.

        “Coach (Huggins) has lost a lot of good players over the years, and the teams continue to win,” sophomore Leonard Stokes said. “So I'm not worried about it hurting the team. I think we would've had a shot of being a better team next year from start to end, but we just have to work around it now.”

        “Yeah, it's going to hurt us,” junior guard Steve Logan said. “Without question. He controlled a lot of things out there. He did a lot of things well. We've got to recover quick.

        “I might move back to the point. Whatever coach wants me to do I can do. We don't want to let that affect our year. We're going to still go out and play.”

        Logan said he has mixed feelings. He's happy for Satterfield but not that he's leaving the Bearcats.

        “I enjoyed playing with him,” Logan said. “At the same time, he feels he's ready to go. It's his decision. It's his life. I just wish him the best.”

        Cincinnati will have two scholarships available with the departures of Satterfield and junior Antwan Jones, who remains enrolled as a student but has not participated in any team activities. He is expected to leave UC.

        The Bearcats have continued recruiting and could bring in a new point guard, but only if he is good enough to help out.

        Huggins could move Logan back to point guard, Logan's natural position. He could also try Stokes or Immanuel McElroy at point and leave Logan at shooting guard, the position he played most during his Conference USA MVP season.

        Monter said Satterfield could have used another college season, but if he waited until next year he would have been rated lower among point guards.

        Next year's class of point guards could include Jason Williams (Duke), Chris Duhon (Duke), Tito Maddox (Fresno State), Troy Bell (Boston College), Marcus Taylor (Michigan State) and Frank Williams (Illinois).

        “To me, he's better served by staying in school,” Monter said.“But you could make the argument that he might get better, but he might go lower just because of the number of other players at that position (next season).”

Satterfield gone for good Huggins may be out of Cavs picture UC loses out on 7-foot center Guidulgi watches and waits

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