Second recruit files for NBA

Incoming basketball recruit Robert Rothbart has entered his name into next month's NBA Draft but will not hire an agent. \nRothbart who attended Natomas High School in Sacramento, Calif. becomes the second Hoosier recruit to announce for this year's draft. The other, Josh Smith of Powder Springs, Ga., declared last month and has been mentioned as a possible lottery pick. \nRothbart signed his letter-of-intent to play with the Hoosiers April 23, three days after Smith had announced his NBA intentions. \nRothbart, ranked No. 99 nationally by rivals.com, surprised many with the announcement. When the 7-foot-1 inch center's recruitment with IU began, the native of Bosnia weighed only 180 pounds. With his recruitment intensified, the center needed to bulk up to be effective early in his college career. Rothbart worked out constantly, finishing his high school career weighing nearly 230 pounds, Rothbart's mother, Nada said. The now-heavier Rothbart, who has been dreaming about playing in the NBA since the first grade according to his mother, feels as if his body is not only ready for college now, but also the pros.\n"We feel it's a win-win situation," Nada said. "He has an opportunity to try the NBA and play for Indiana. He is as excited about Indiana as he is about the NBA." \nLast season Rothbart averaged 21 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks as he led Natomas to a 23-5 record. His senior year performance paved the way to unanimous league MVP honors as well as all-city honors. \nRothbart was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and fled the country with his family to Israel before the war began. The family spent two years in Israel before Rothbart and his mother moved to California nine years ago. \nNada Rothbart plans to accompany her son wherever he goes in the fall, whether it be Bloomington or an NBA city. \nAccording to his mother, Rothbart plans to hold workouts for pro teams where he can show off his newly chiseled frame and his impressive skills for a big man. \nRothbart can still be drafted and maintain his college eligibility as his mother said her son "absolutely did not" hire an agent. If a team drafts Rothbart and he decides to attend IU, that team will hold his rights until one year after Rothbart's college eligibility expires, according to NBA league rules. If Rothbart goes undrafted and attends IU, he will become a free agent after his college career and cannot be drafted again. Rothbart has until June 17 to withdraw his name from the draft. Nada said her son would likely need to be drafted in the first round for him to seriously consider making the jump to the NBA.\nIU coach Mike Davis fully believes to have Rothbart in the fold come the fall. \n"Robert and his mother told me last week that while Robert would like to test the waters of the NBA Draft, he still intends to come to Indiana," Davis said in a statement. "We're looking forward to having him here next year."\n-- Contact sports editor Matt Glenesk at mglenesk@indiana.edu.