Alabama's Cotton considering turning pro

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama's leading scorer Schea Cotton is considering making himself eligible for the NBA draft because his<br>father is ill.<br><br>Cotton, a 21-year-old sophomore, said he

Tuesday, March 7th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama's leading scorer Schea Cotton is considering making himself eligible for the NBA draft because his
father is ill.

Cotton, a 21-year-old sophomore, said he will visit with his family in Los Angeles over spring break and decide whether to return for his junior season.

He said his father, James Cotton, is sick but did not elaborate on the nature of the illness.

"My main objective is to make sure my family is all right," Cotton said. "Family is first. Because, if I break my leg tomorrow, my family is going to be there for me 100 percent."

Alabama's spring break is March 27-April 2.

The 6-foot-5 forward is averaging 15.8 points a game heading into Alabama's game Thursday against South Carolina in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.

Cotton, who turns 22 in May, is in his first season of NCAA competition. He signed with UCLA in 1997 and North Carolina State in 1998, but he played last season at Long Beach City College because the NCAA invalidated his SAT scores.

Cotton's name came up last week when Nate Cebrun, a runner for sports agents who is accused of making improper payments to Auburn star Chris Porter, said he and Cotton are friends.

"When I started hearing the allegations, I was just like, 'Here we go again,"' he said. "I just wanted to get my name cleared, because I didn't want any allegations out there like, 'Oh, he took money,' or 'I think he was involved in this also."'

Cotton denied knowing how his name was associated with Cebrun.