Gibbs Eyes the Big Time

His father says it’s a one-time-only opportunity and there’s no reason not to seize it.

University of Pittsburg junior Ashton Gibbs, who spent his formative years in Scotch Plains, has announced he is entering the 2011 NBA draft. His official paperwork came through on Thursday, according to a press release from the university.

“Ashton wants to see where he stands with NBA draft possibilities,” Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon said. “Ashton and I have had numerous discussions dating back to last year. Anytime you’re an All-Big East First Team player, it is something we encourage our players to look into. He has expressed a desire not to retain an agent and have the opportunity to return to the University of Pittsburgh next year. We support Ashton in his goals while he finishes up requirements for graduation.”

Gibbs, who was also named a Big East Academic All Star in 2010, led the Panthers in scoring this season, posting a 16.8 points-per-game average while connecting on nearly 50 percent of this three-point attempts and nearly 90 percent of his free throws. He also handed out nearly three assists per game for the Southeast Regional’s top-seeded Panthers. Pitt lost to Butler in the third round of the NCAA Tournament last month.

With an NBA lockout a real possibility next fall, and with Gibbs not showing up on any of the top draft prospect lists, he and his father have elected not to retain an agent, leaving Gibbs with an out should he choose to remove himself from the draft. Players have until May 8 to remove their names and retain their college eligibility. Once a player retains an agent, however, he forfeits his college eligibility.

“You put your name out there, you see how you do,” said Ashton’s father Temple Gibbs, who is informally representing his son through the process. “A lot of juniors will try this because it’s really your only chance to test the waters. Ashton had a good season. You pull your name back if things don’t go well.”

Temple said he would be busy over the coming days trying to get Ashton an invitation to an NBA camp or two. There, Ashton will get his chance to show off his talents.

While Ashton was a first-team All-Big East selection this past season – he led the conference in three-point percentage and three-point field goals made, and was second in free throw shooting and sixth overall in scoring – his size could work against him at the next level. At 6 feet, 2 inches and 190 pounds, he would likely be relegated to point guard status in the NBA. He is considered a combo guard at Pitt.

“He can play point guard,” Temple said. “He has point guard skills. He can do a lot of things but he hasn’t really been able to show off that style of play at Pitt. They’re more of a half-court set, conservative offense. But he can get to the rack. That’s what he was known for. He’s strong enough and quick enough to get to the basket. That’s his strength. He has to get back to doing that.

“But he also realizes you have to be a team player and he still put up his numbers. He’s learned to play within Pitt’s system.”

Chris Denker, of Netscouts Basketball, listed Gibbs as a player with good mechanics, good leaping ability and above-average speed who is a consistent scorer. Gibbs has also demonstrated good change of speed, Denker said, but relies almost exclusively on his outside shot. Though he lauds Gibbs ability to get his teammates involved, he cautions that he must improve his one-on-one skills and his passing.

Temple, though, said he thinks Ashton’s greatest need for progress is his explosiveness off the dribble.

“He’s got the pull-up game,” he insists. “He’s obviously got the shooting game. He’s going to work on those other things.”

Temple also insisted that Pitt’s loss of three key starters off one of the best teams in school history played no factor in Gibbs’ decision to test the NBA waters. Gone are guard Brad Wannamaker and forward Gilbert Brown as well as post man and leading rebounder Gary McGhee. Those three represent more than 40 percent of Pitt’s 2010-11 scoring, rebounding and assists.

“No, he’d be coming back as probably the top guy on the team and if he thought he could help them get to the next level, he would [be happy to do that],” Temple Gibbs said. “That didn’t factor in at all. We’re not looking back, we’re trying to look forward.”

The next five weeks will determine Ashton’s immediate future. It might be considered a long shot given the glut of highly-coveted point guards coming out, such as Duke’s Kyrie Irving and Connecticut’s Kemba Walker, but Temple isn’t one to doubt his son’s talents. He doubts his resolve even less.

“He’s putting his foot out there and we’re going to see what happens,” he said. “But if I know my son, he’s going to give it his best shot.”