With the 2004 NBA Draft slated for Thursday, June 24 in New York City, the Hawks continue full-scale pre-draft preparations, as four top point guards pay a visit for a Wednesday workout. Ben Gordon from national champion Connecticut, Wisconsin’s Devin Harris, Peoria (IL) high school product Shaun Livingston and the decorated Jameer Nelson from St. Joseph’s are scheduled to battle beginning at 10 a.m. on the Hawks’ practice court.
 Gordon |
A talented scorer and ballhandler, Gordon is an early entry candidate after helping lead the Huskies to the national championship. He was a member of the 2004 NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team, was first team All-Big East, and finished his collegiate career as the sixth all-time leading scorer in Connecticut history. The sharpshooter is the school’s all-time leader with 242 three-pointers made and is second in career three-point percentage (42.3 percent). As a junior, Gordon tallied 18.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 4.5 apg (.434 FG%, .433 3FG%, .829 FT%) in 39 starting assignments.
Gordon’s bio/stats
 Harris |
Harris averaged 19.5 ppg, 4.4 apg and 4.3 rpg (.459 FG%, .373 3FG%, .792 FT%), and started 32 games en route to Big Ten Player of the Year honors. The athletic Milwaukee native was named second team All-America last season by seven different media outlets. The early-entry candidate became just the second player in school history to start every game each of his first three seasons. He broke Michael Finley’s single-season scoring record with 624 total points last season, and ranks seventh on the Badgers’ all-time scoring list.
Harris’ bio/stats
 Livingston |
Another early-entry candidate, Livingston was named to the 2004 McDonald’s All-America Team and PARADE Magazine’s All-America first team. He led Peoria Central to Class AA state titles in 2003 and 2004, earning Mr. Basketball honors this past season. The true point guard stands to become the fourth Illinois Mr. Basketball (joining Kevin Garnett, Darius Miles and Eddy Curry) to go straight from high school to the NBA. He put up 18.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 5.7 apg, shooting 51 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free throw line as a senior.
Livingston’s bio/stats
 Nelson |
The consensus national Player of the Year, Nelson was also a unanimous Associated Press First Team All-America selection after leading St. Joe’s to a perfect regular season (27-0), a top ranking in the national polls for one week, the school’s first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and a school-best 30-2 record. The Atlantic 10 Player of the Year averaged 20.6 ppg, 5.3 apg, 4.7 rpg and 2.9 spg, and totaled 98 points in four NCAA Tournament contests as the Hawks advanced to the Elite Eight.
Nelson’s bio/stats
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