[Bubba]

Nice article in the Wichita paper(online) today about Beasley and if he will go to the NBA.

...More laughter -- Beasley included. He was enjoying himself, which has become the norm, not the exception, since he migrated from his home in the Washington, D.C., area to Manhattan. And while no one knew what to expect at the start, these past eight months in the Little Apple have been more enjoyable than anyone, especially Smith, could have imagined.

But enough to bypass millions of NBA dollars?

"I think Mike found a lot of love at K-State," said Curtis Malone, his mentor and founder of the D.C. Assault, the AAU organization for whom Beasley played. "It surprised him a bit... and you know what? Fatima is in heaven. It's like a small community, but it's so much like family. She's been embraced."

So much so, that Smith fondly calls Manhattan "home." She'd love to stay. And Beasley hasn't publicly budged from his stated plan to stick around for four years.

"I love college life," said Beasley, who turns irritable when asked about the subject. "I love college ball."

...Or return for his sophomore year at K-State, which could ensure the Wildcats a preseason ranking in the Top 10, if not higher, and continue the good times. He could enjoy his last few moments as a teenager with his best friends -- which includes Hill, whom he followed to Manhattan.

"You have to realize -- he'd never been to college, and he's never been to the NBA," said Hill, who insisted he doesn't discuss the future with Beasley. "He doesn't know what to expect. He's fortunate he's been around some guys in the NBA.... But in all honesty, if we sit down and he says he's not ready, we'll make the decision for him to come back.

"But when you make that jump, you have to be prepared to tell people 'no.' Friends, family and fans.... If you're not in the mood to do something, you have to be ready to say 'no.' He's such a happy-go-lucky kid, so if he's not ready.... He's going to have to say 'no.' Not Curtis, not me, and not Fatima. It's his responsibility now."

Here, his every action isn't breaking news.

At Zuckey Bowl, no one seemed to notice Beasley, who at 6-foot-10 is hard to miss. That, Smith said, is the charm of Manhattan.

...{he}will have to decide by April 27, the NBA early entry eligibility deadline.

No one, according to Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik, is more ready than Beasley.

Bzdelik spent 15 seasons as a scout and a coach in the NBA. In the Buffaloes' two losses to the Wildcats, Beasley totaled 62 points and 27 rebounds, which is why the Colorado coach said there's nothing left for Beasley to accomplish in college.

"The (NBA) game is different," Bzdelik said. "If a player is not going to stay for four years, he might as well learn the NBA game.... You go to college to make a living for yourself.

"Why wait?"

Maybe because of moments like the Sunday in early March.

Surrounded by family -- 4-year-old Tiffany rarely left Beasley's side, tugging at her big brother's enormous hand -- and by teammates -- senior James Franklin and classmates Ron Anderson and Jacob Pullen arrived later -- smiles came easy for Beasley.

Just as basketball, but not bowling, does.

His looming decision won't be.

"It's not like Mike is in a hurry," Hill said. "He understands the opportunity is going to be there. He knows he will make money at the next level.... It's just a matter of when."

Kansas.com | 03/18/2008 | Beasley isn't ready to ponder the future