ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 30, 1996 TAG: 9604300087
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
THE GEORGETOWN SOPHOMORE guard has been seen driving a Mercedes, fueling speculation that he may enter the NBA draft.
Georgetown sophomore Allen Iverson has been driving around town in a $130,000 Mercedes, a possible violation of NCAA rules and another indication that he'll be the next college star to bolt early for the NBA.
Iverson has been driving the car, a loaner from a local dealership, since early April. Should he decide to return to Georgetown for his junior year, the loan could jeopardize his eligibility as an amateur athlete in the eyes of the NCAA.
David Loring, sales manager of the American Service Center in suburban Alexandria, said Monday he loaned Iverson the car as part of a routine practice of providing cars for prominent individuals because of the publicity it brings the dealership. He said Iverson had not signed any documents indicating he would buy the car.
``I loaned [broadcaster and former Redskins quarterback] Sonny Jurgensen a car for six months now,'' Loring said. ``I haven't even thought about selling [Iverson] a car.''
But NCAA rules prohibit an athlete from receiving preferential treatment because of celebrity status.
NCAA director of legislative services Steve Mallonee refused to comment on the specifics of the Iverson case, but he said a player can lose his eligible status if it's determined he received ``preferential treatment, benefits or services because of the individual athlete's status or payback potential as a pro athlete.''
Three weeks ago, the Washington Post quoted unnamed sources as saying Iverson had decided to forego his final two years at Georgetown and enter the June 26 draft - becoming the first player under coach John Thompson to do so.
Neither Iverson nor Thompson have commented on the matter since. On Monday, a Georgetown athletics department spokesman would only say that the NCAA has not contacted the school concerning Iverson.
That's because the whole issue of Iverson's eligibility becomes irrelevant if he does declare for the NBA draft before the May 12 deadline.
``It would be premature to look into it until we know what his decision is going to be,'' Mallonee said.
Iverson's quickness has made him one of the premier guards in the college game. This season, he averaged 24.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.5 steals. He was named a first-team All-American, and was selected the Big East defensive player of the year for the second time.
On Monday, Massachusetts junior Marcus Camby and high school player Kobe Bryant joined a host of players who have announced their intentions to enter the NBA draft early.
But an early departure by Iverson would break one of the last bastions of the four-year student athlete. Thompson, who is fiercely proud of the his players' graduation rate, declared last month that Iverson would leave only with his permission - ``or he will go nowhere.''
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines KEYWORDS: BASKETBALLby CNB