Last year, during the only season together on the Syracuse men’s basketball team, Hakim Warrick and Carmelo Anthony daydreamed together about playing in the NBA someday. In Anthony’s vision, someday was sooner than later – for both him and his spindly teammate.

‘Yeah, we’ve talked about it,’ Warrick said at the end of SU’s regular season. ‘We even talked about it last year, in practice, just joking around, saying we should come out together. He says I’m ready, but he’s always been saying that.’

Warrick also said then that he planned on returning to Syracuse for his senior year. For all of Anthony’s titles – Syracuse legend, NBA superstar, Warrick’s close friend – Warrick should stick to that and not follow his buddy’s advice. But he should follow Carmelo’s lead.

Before Anthony arrived at Syracuse, he possessed NBA talent. He could’ve turned pro before stepping foot on campus but instead chose to come to Syracuse. Worked out pretty well – he won a national title, became a local paragon and, maybe most importantly, made himself millions of dollars.

Right now, Warrick could play in the NBA. No one disputes that. With his athleticism and otherworldly wingspan, his potential makes pro scouts drool all over their clipboards.

But just because he could play professionally doesn’t mean he should. He’s facing a situation similar to Anthony’s when Carmelo was a high school senior: Jump to the NBA now and make a ripple, or wait a year and make a splash. Anthony made the right choice in going to Syracuse. Warrick should, too.

Had Anthony entered the NBA draft as a high school senior, he likely would have been selected in the mid-to-late first round. That’s probably where Warrick would be taken if he jumped this off-season. The average contract of NBA rookies chosen 15th through 20th in last summer’s draft is for four years and $1.4 million a year.

Same thing for Emeka Okafor, who could’ve came out after last season. Instead, he stayed for his junior year – he’s on pace to graduate early – and turned himself from a marginal first-rounder to a sure-fire top three pick.

Anthony’s year at Syracuse, aside from winning a national championship and having more fun than any 19-year-old should, turned to be a $7 million investment. His contract? Four years at $3.2 million per. And that’s without the multi-million dollar Nike and Jordan Brand contract. Warrick has the potential to become a top five pick and earn that kind of salary – in next year’s draft.

As nice as that money is, it’s not the only reason for Warrick to return. During his senior year, he’ll have a chance to compete for the National Player of the Year award, win a national title and enjoy a star turn that could rival Anthony’s.

So what if it means one more year of Kimmel and Goldstein in place of chic steakhouses? He’ll have more fun catching alley-oops from Gerry McNamara than removing splinters from the back of shorts while playing in the NBA.

Because if Warrick does jump this off-season, he’ll likely see more bench time than he’s used to. As athletic as he is, he’s not quite strong enough to endure 82 games worth of banging inside as a power forward.

And, in the league, he would have to play power forward. He got away with playing small forward this season at times, mostly because his lanky frame is perfectly suited to play in SU’s 2-3 zone. In the mostly man-to-man NBA, Warrick would struggle guarding smaller forwards on the perimeter, as he did at the beginning of the season when SU used man periodically.

Offensively, Warrick dominated this season. Despite making third-team All-America, Warrick probably was a little underrated this year. Other big men – Kansas’ Wayne Simien and North Carolina’s Sean May come to mind – command double-teams like Warrick, but Warrick’s play-making ability and quickness on the break set him apart.

Still, he’s got kinks to iron out. Warrick’s outside shot improved immensely from a year ago, but to become as big a threat in the NBA as he is here, he must keep improving it at that rate. And Warrick, for his mesmerizing array of post moves, can use some patchy footwork at times and has a propensity to travel.

There’s not much risk to stay. His weaknesses are obvious – by remaining here another year, Warrick won’t be exposed. All he has to do is tweak a couple aspects of his game. With the extra-large crop of high schoolers jumping to the pros – Georgia prep Dwight Howard is expected to be picked No. 1 overall, leading a class that could reach double-digits in the number selected – the market is flooded with Warrick’s largest asset: potential.

It’s a big leap from college to the NBA, maybe the only one the rocket-legged Warrick can’t make right now. There are too many reasons not to. Legendary status. Eventually, a bigger paycheck. Flushing out an already solid game.

The list goes on. What else could convince him?

Oh, yeah. He’ll get a college degree. There’s always that, too.

Adam Kilgore is the sports editor at The Daily Orange, where his columns appear regularly. E-mail him at adkilgor@syr.edu.

Published on March 29, 2004 at 12:00 pm