Findlay's trade: Sand for snow

INDIANAPOLIS -- How much does Robert Findlay love basketball?

Try this.

Findlay, a 6-6 forward from Bishop Gorman High, has been accepted academically to attend Pepperdine University in Malibu. You know, just up the beach from the Who's Who of Hollywood and along one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world.

But Findlay, who accumulated a 3.85 GPA and 1,210 on the SAT at Gorman, has decided to pursue his dream of earning a basketball scholarship next year by attending a prep school. ... Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, Maine.

Malibu or Pittsfield, Maine? Talk about your opposite ends of the spectrum.

"It's about as far as you can get from Malibu," Findlay admitted while attending the Nike All-America basketball camp here.

So why is Findlay, who missed a major part of his senior season after tearing ankle ligaments, going all the way to Maine to play basketball when he could be doing his homework on the beach in Malibu?

"I just wanted to give (basketball) one more shot," Findlay said.

Maine Central coach Max Good managed to convince Nike officials to invite Findlay to their prestigious camp here. And Findlay, who started on the first unit on a squad that included highly touted big man Marvin Stone of Huntsville, Ala., opened more than few college coaches' eyes with his solid defense and good passing skills.

"He's a nice player," said one Pac-10 assistant. "If he gets some more exposure, he could get a low to mid-major scholarship."

That would suit Findlay, a key sixth man on Gorman's state title team two years ago, just fine.

"Maybe an Ivy League school might get interested," Findlay said. "If I couldn't go there, hopefully a school out in California might be interested."

Findlay leaves in mid-August for Maine.

"I've only been on the East Coast one time," Findlay said. "So I'm really looking forward to it. I understand they play a lot of their games in the Boston area."

And if, after his one year at Maine Central, he still doesn't get a basketball scholarship, Findlay can always fall back on his chance to attend Pepperdine.

"Then, at least I'll know I've given it my best shot," Findlay said.

NIKE CAMP NOTES: Here's one man's opinion of the top five prospects at the Nike Camp this year:

1. Yao Ming, 7-3, 252, C, Shanghai, China: It's not a matter of "if" but "when" this talented 17-year-old becomes the first Chinese player in the NBA. He's light years ahead of a fellow named Mark Eaton, who went on to star with the Utah Jazz. He runs the court extremely well, like Shawn Bradley, but isn't afraid to mix it up and has a nice touch around the basket. Because of the language differences, it's highly unlikely Ming will qualify academically to play college basketball. But don't be surprised if some NBA team snaps him up in the lottery in the not-so-distant future.

2. Jason Williams, 6-3, 205, PG, Metuchen, N.J., St. Joseph: The best playmaker to come out of high school since Jason Kidd.

3. Casey Sanders, 6-11, 210, BF, Tampa, Fla., Preparatory: A Kevin Garnett-kind of athlete minus the jumper.

4. Joe Forte, 6-4, 190, 2G, Hyattsville, Md., DeMatha: Outstanding one-on-one player who can hit the three.

5. Curtis Borchardt, 6-10, 190, BF, Redmond, Wash., Eastlake: Runs court extremely well for a big man. Plays hard.

The two biggest disappointments? Try 6-10, 240-pound Marvin Stone of Huntsville, Ala., Grissom, rated the nation's top prospect by some scouting services, and Damien Wilkens (6-6, 205) of Frederick, Md., St. John's at Prospect Hall. Stone runs the court like a 45-year-old man and had his shot stuffed by average 6-10 prep players. Wilkens, the son of NBA star Gerald Wilkens, lacked the explosiveness one would expect of his pedigree.

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