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Gerry Melendez/gmelendez@thestate.com/The State
USC's Devan Downey drives past Clemson's Andre Young in the first half during the Gamecocks game against Clemson at the Colonial Life Arena on Tuesday.
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Ex-coach says Downey 'still deciding'
Devan Downey texted his high school coach today, saying it was "50-50" he would return to South Carolina.
That’s according to DeAndre Scott, the coach at Wilson High School, who coached Downey at Chester.
Scott was on Phil Kornblut’s afternoon show, and when pressed, the coach said he would put it at about 50 percent that Downey would leave. Scott said he then sent Downey a text telling him what he told the radio audience, and Downey texted back that his coach was accurate.
“I really think he’s still deciding,” Scott said.
A few other people I have spoken to today think it’s closer to 100 percent that Downey will not return for his senior year. The scenario that has gained the most traction is that Downey would withdraw from the draft by Monday then play next year in Europe and re-enter the draft in 2010.
As I said earlier today, Downey has one more workout scheduled, Thursday in Milwaukee.
“He’s got a great choice to make. I don’t think he can go wrong either way,” Scott said. “He comes back to school, I think he has about nine to 12 hours left to get a degree, (and) he can play with a team that won 20 games last year. Or he has a chance to take his talents to the next level and play basketball and get paid for it.”
As for Dominique Archie, there are conflicting reports. One source thinks Archie will also go the Europe route, while another maintains he will stay in the draft and try to hook on as an undrafted free agent.
Either way, both sources think Archie is unlikely to return to school. However, one added that “these are kids” and you never know.
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