Nearly two hours after announcing he's heading to the NBA, after signing countless autographs, Eric Gordon was getting ready to leave the Jewish Community Center surrounded by family.

Sporting a yellow T-shirt, he sounded comfortable with his decision.

"I know it's going to be tough with the amount of games and everything," the Indiana University freshman said. "Basically, I have to take it as a challenge. It's almost every man for himself.

"I'm just glad to go on to the next level."

The Big Ten's leading scorer as a freshman, Gordon said he isn't chasing the NBA's millions, though they will follow if, as widely projected, he is a top-10 pick in the June 26 draft at Madison Square Garden in New York.

"I am doing this to compete at the highest level, not for fame," the North Central High School graduate said during the news conference, drawing applause from a crowd of nearly 100, many of whom watched him grow up playing at the JCC.

Gordon was joined by about 20 family members, North Central coach Doug Mitchell and IU assistants Jeff Meyer and Ray McCallum.

Rob Pelinka, expected to be Gordon's agent, also attended, but Eric Gordon Sr. said nothing has been signed. Pelinka represents 12 NBA players, including Kobe Bryant.

New IU coach Tom Crean, who won't get a chance to coach Eric Gordon, came to support Gordon's decision. Crean, who coached current NBA star Dwyane Wade at Marquette, said Gordon has a bright future.

"He'll be an outstanding player. His range, his quickness, his speed, his toughness, his ability to get his own shot -- all of those things are there and will only be enhanced as he gets older, and his game and body mature," Crean said.

"And defensively I think he can be outstanding as time goes on. We're going to be following it close, and the night that he's drafted is going to be a proud night for everybody in Indiana."

Gordon's 669 points are the most by a freshman in Big Ten history, and he is the only IU freshman to lead the league in scoring. Gordon, who turns 20 on Christmas, said he will miss the college game and atmosphere.

He said he'll finish the academic semester, then decide if he'll play in pre-draft camps.

"For him, it's a dream come true," Eric Gordon Sr. said. "This is perfect timing to announce he wanted to go pro. I don't think it's a risky decision. I think it's a very good decision."

Before the NBA changed its rule requiring players to be a year removed from high school before being draft eligible, many projected Gordon would go from the preps to the pros. Meyer, who coached Gordon Sr. in college, knew his former player's son was special long before that.

When Meyer was an assistant at Butler, he was at North Central with a cadre of coaches watching A.J. Ratliff and Anthony Passley.

"This eighth-grader walks onto the court and literally dominated two consecutive games with his scoring, with driving the ball," Meyer said. "It was clear to me at that point in time that E.J. was way beyond his years in ability and mind-set."

Now he'll get a chance to test that against the best players in the world.

EARLY JUMPS TO THE NBA How will Eric Gordon, a 6-4 shooting guard, fare in the NBA? Consider that since 1995, 34 players have entered the league straight out of high school or after their freshman year in college (as Gordon is doing) and been selected in the top 10 picks of the draft (as Gordon is expected to be). Interestingly, only three of the 34 were shorter than 6-5, including Indianapolis' Mike Conley, who was picked fourth last year. A look:
2007

Pick Pos. Player Ht., School, year Team
1 C Greg Oden 7-0 Ohio St., Fr. Portland
2 F Kevin Durant 6-10 Texas, Fr. Seattle
4 G Mike Conley 6-1 Ohio St., Fr. Memphis
8 F Brandan Wright 6-10 N. Carolina, Fr. Charlotte
10 C Spencer Hawes 7-0 Washington, Fr. Sacramento
2006

4 F Tyrus Thomas 6-8 LSU, Fr. Chicago
2005

2 F Marvin Williams 6-8 N. Carolina, Fr. Atlanta
6 F Martell Webster 6-7 High school Portland
10 C Andrew Bynum 7-0 High school L.A. Lakers
2004

1 F Dwight Howard 6-10 High school Orlando
4 G Shaun Livingston 6-7 High school L.A. Clippers
7 F Luol Deng 6-8 Duke, Fr. Chicago
2003

1 F LeBron James 6-8 High school Cleveland
3 F Carmelo Anthony 6-7 Syracuse, Fr. Denver
4 F Chris Bosh 6-11 Ga. Tech, Fr. Toronto
2002

6 G DaJuan Wagner 6-2 Memphis, Fr. Cleveland
9 F Amare Stoudemire 6-10 High school Phoenix
2001

1 F Kwame Brown 6-11 High school Washington
2 F Tyson Chandler 7-0 High school L.A. Clippers
4 C Eddy Curry 6-11 High school Chicago
7 F Eddie Griffin 6-9 Seton Hall, Fr. New Jersey
8 C DeSagana Diop 6-11 High school Cleveland
9 F Rodney White 6-9 Charlotte, Fr. Detroit
2000

3 F Darius Miles 6-9 High school L.A. Clippers
6 F DerMarr Johnson 6-9 Cincinnati, Fr. Atlanta
8 G Jamal Crawford 6-6 Michigan, Fr. Cleveland
1999

4 F Lamar Odom 6-10 Rhode Island, Fr. L.A. Clippers
5 F Jonathan Bender 6-11 High school Toronto
1998

8 G Larry Hughes 6-5 St. Louis, Fr. Philadelphia
1997

7 F Tim Thomas 6-10 Villanova, Fr. New Jersey
9 G Tracy McGrady 6-8 High school Toronto
1996

3 F Shareef Abdur-Rahim 6-9 California, Fr. Vancouver
4 G Stephon Marbury 6-2 Ga. Tech, Fr. Milwaukee
1995

5 F Kevin Garnett 6-11 High school Minnesota

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