A source at Duke said late last night that Gerald Henderson has not decided to enter the NBA Draft but is considering making the move under the right conditions.
The deadline for filing for early entry to the draft is Sunday at midnight. The source said that Henderson doesn't seem in a rush to make a decision with six full days left before the deadline.
A report on WRAL television's Web site yesterday cited two NBA sources as saying that Henderson had decided to enter the draft. The report indicated that the scouts were certain Henderson would leave school and that he will be a high draft choice.
If Henderson does decide to enter the draft, he would likely not hire an agent, preserving his college eligibility, the source said. He could then return to Duke for his senior season if he does not like his draft status.
At least some NBA Draft projections list Henderson as a possible lottery pick, among the first 14 selections of the teams that did not make this season's playoffs.
Henderson has not tested his draft status with the NBA, which college players are allowed to do once. Two juniors at North Carolina, Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson, tested their status last year before returning to school and must decide this year to enter the draft for good or return to school for one more season.
Matt Plizga, Duke's sports-information director for basketball, said that Henderson is contemplating entering the draft but no announcement on his future is scheduled.
Plizga said that his information is that Henderson has not made a decision either to leave or to stay.
"He's definitely mulling it over and trying to figure out what's going to be the best decision for him," Plizga said. "I'm sure they're (Henderson and his parents) still thinking about it."
Henderson, a 6-4 swingman, was not available for comment. A message left on the Henderson family phone in Merion, Pa., by the Winston-Salem Journal last night was not immediately returned.
Henderson has been one of Duke's top players for the last three seasons and helped this season's team finish 30-7 and win the ACC Tournament. He averaged 16.5 points, which tied Kyle Singler for the team lead, in starting 36 times in 37 games.
He averaged 29.7 minutes a game and shot 45 percent from the field. He made 33.6 percent of his 3-point shots and his average of 4.9 rebounds was the team's second highest.
■ Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@wsjournal.com.
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