ABA Money Tempts Harvard Cagers

It will take $500,000 for the American Basketball Association to get him to play for it, says Jim Fitzsimmons. Several other key Harvard players said that they would be tempted to leave college in order to play if an offer was attractive enough.

The collegiate basketball world has been shaken in recent weeks by the ABA's success in luring undergraduate players to quit school and sign professional contracts. Several star players have already come to terms and college coaches fear that a rash of such signings is in the offing.

"If someone offered me that kind of money, I'd sign," Fitzsimmons said. "Of course, I'm not that kind of player, but if the price is right. I'm available."

Although admitting that he had not yet been contacted in the ABA's recent attempts to sign undergraduate players, James Brown said that he would "definitely go if the money was adequate."

"The problem would be that what I would consider adequate and what they would offer are probably two completely different things," he said.

Brown said he would first inform coach Harrison before talking with any professional club. "The man is not only my coach but is a good friend as well." he said. "I'm sure that whatever decision I would make in regard to a professional career would leave no hard feelings."

Marshall Saunders agreed with Brown that money would be the major factor in his decision to forego college for basketball.

"College in itself exists for the purpose of finding a career," Saunders said. "If you were in a business program and the head of General Motors offered you an executive position, you'd be a fool to refuse it. You can complete college anytime."

Future security stands uppermost in both Brown's and Saunders's minds. "I will have to be protected if I sign." Saunders said. "If the team offered me a no-cut contract with fringe benefits such as graduate-school financing, there's no way I'm going to stay here."

The desire to finish school will probably keep Floyd Lewis at Harvard for the next two years. "As of now, what I want to do is complete my education." Lewis said. "Yet if somebody offered me a lot of money. I might be interested. The money could really help my family. I'd have to consider it."

Harrison takes a dim view of the ABA tactics but will feel no bitterness toward any of his players who sign.

"You can't condemn a boy who is offered a lot of money to sign a contract," Harrison said. "Why the money most of these players are offered is more than I will make in a lifetime."

Harrison considers the ABA raid on the college campus as a desperation move. "The merger with the NBA is inevitable as Congress paves the way for the merger. They're just looking for talent to make their teams comparable to the NBA teams," he said.