High school star showcases skills for Rockets

By MICHAEL A. LUTZ
AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON (AP) Kendrick ``Baby Shaq'' Perkins is studying the NBA while the NBA studies him.

Perkins has said he might skip college and go straight from Beaumont Ozen High School in Texas to the pros and he is a possible first-round pick in the June draft. He can change his mind as late as June 19 and still attend college as an amateur.

``Right now it's 50-50. I'm going to keep on with these workouts and trying to get ready and that's it,'' Perkins said Wednesday in Houston, where he worked out for the Rockets. He worked out earlier this week for the San Antonio Spurs.

Perkins' 6-foot-11, 290-pound frame earned him his nickname and comparisons to Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal.

``I'm working on my conditioning to see where I'm at,'' Perkins said. ``There's really no pressure on me, it's a win-win situation. If I don't like where I'm at (in the draft) I can always go to college, so I'm not losing either way.''

In order to protect his amateur status, Perkins has been paying his own way to the workouts. He doesn't have an agent, either.

The Rockets don't have a coach or a first-round pick in the draft, but they worked Perkins out at the team's practice facility as a courtesy to the player and to gather more information for their scouting journals.

Andre Boutte, Perkins' high school coach, is helping his star pupil through the workout process.

``What he's doing now is getting some workouts in to see just where he is,'' Boutte said. ``We're confident that he's skilled enough to get the job done. What he's doing is putting on exhibitions for those who have to decide.

``We're going by feel. After this workout we'll try to work out another one.''

Dennis Lindsey, Rockets vice president of basketball operations and player personnel, conducted the workout.

``It's always been our stance that these guys should go to school, but he's a talented guy and we feel out of loyalty, him being a local kid, to work him out and show him what the process is all about,'' Lindsey said.

Perkins led Ozen to a 96-3 record in his final three high school seasons. He averaged 27.5 points, 16.4 rebounds and 7.8 blocks per game last season, when Ozen lost in the state championship game to Fort Worth Dunbar.

Boutte has mentored Perkins since his junior high days. He hopes Perkins is ready for the next step.

``I don't think any kid at 18 years old is ready for what the world has to offer,'' Boutte said. ``I'm 40 and I still get surprised. You don't think you're ever ready. It's how you go about things after something has happened.

``As far as him being levelheaded and making good decisions, I'm confident he can do that. But with any child, going to the service and being stationed in Chicago or going off to college in California, you still have concerns.''

Perkins has signed a letter of intent to play for Memphis and coach John Calipari. Perkins thinks his decision will come right down to the June 19 deadline.

``Coach Cal? I talked to him last week,'' Perkins said. ``He said he's happy for me whatever I decide. He's just happy for me.''

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)