You see Roderick Flemings is mulling an early departure from the University of Hawai'i for the NBA draft and immediately flash to somebody who, once-upon-a-not-so-distant-time, also wore No. 23 there.

Carl English.

Remember when English left after his junior season for that can't-miss NBA career? But somehow did.

The hope is that Flemings will get better advice and make more of it. English, it is recalled, left after the 2002-'03 season for what was, or so he was led to believe, a "solid" second-round place in the NBA draft. Instead he went undrafted and, despite repeated shots and some close calls, has yet to crash an NBA roster.

Now, fast forward to the 6-foot-7 Flemings who has put in his papers for early entry into the NBA draft, though he has not of yet taken on an agent. He can withdraw from the pool and return to UH provided he declares before June 15.

To be sure, Flemings is a special talent. He was the best player UH put on the court this past year, averaging 16.6 points a game, if not the most accomplished since Anthony Carter (1997). His flashes of brilliance suggest that with another season at the NCAA Division I level — and better health — he can only get better and bolster his chances of making an NBA roster.

To this point, Flemings has maintained that if he is not projected as a first-round pick he will return to UH. But history has also shown that once a player gets the NBA draft fixed in his mind it can become more an emotional call than a reasoned one. If some faint voice in the dark says he could, possibly, be a second-round pick, does he come back?

As Dick Vitale likes to say, there are "100 kids" who are convinced they'll be second-round picks.

By all means if Flemings is forecast a first-round spot, he'd owe it to himself to go. But that isn't happening and you can bet coach Bob Nash has given Flemings the facts-of-NBA life speech. How, for example, Flemings needs to work on his outside shot and polish ball handling skills to make it on the pro level. All things that returning for a senior year at UH would give him time to do.

And with the 'Bows' recent signings of a prospective point guard (Jemery Lay) and promised shooter (Dwain Williams) there should be a cast enabling Flemings to better position and demonstrate his considerable talents.

Last year, Flemings came in for heavy double-teaming because UH had no consistent outside shooting threat. Williams, who made good on 41 percent of his 3-point attempts at Providence, should provide that. If Lay is as advertised, then Flemings should have someone better able to deal him the ball in scoring opportunities.

There are a lot of reasons for Flemings to return. And, barring real prospects of a first-round selection, few to leave.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.