I have talked to plenty of agents about who will represent whom in the upcoming draft. Everyone and their brother (Leon Rose, Bill Duffy, Arn Tellem, Octagon, and others) are said to be lining up for Kevin Durant. But from what I have heard, not many agents are putting a lot of effort into signing the other candidate for the top overall pick, Greg Oden. That's not because he's not an amazing prospect. It's because everyone has long assumed that he would be represented by his teammate Mike Conley's father.

The only flaw in that theory is that Conley Sr. was not an agent. But now, according to Jeff Rabjohns of the Indianapolis Star, that has changed, and as a result Conley could end up representing several first-round picks this year:

Whenever Greg Oden decides to go pro, he'll have the option of turning to a longtime friend for representation.

Mike Conley Sr., who coached Oden in summer basketball and has known the Ohio State freshman phenom since he was in sixth grade, has decided to start a firm.

The company will be called Mac Management Group after the founder's full name, Michael A. Conley.

"I just need to start putting things in place, not knowing what any of the guys are going to do," Conley Sr. said Monday, referring to several college players he knows who are in the position of making decisions about declaring for the NBA draft. "They're definitely going to do something this year or next, so if I'm going to do it, I need to put myself in the position to be ready when the time comes."

Conley Sr. said starting a firm should not be viewed as any indication that Oden has made a decision about whether to go pro this year. Ohio State is in the Sweet Sixteen, and Oden has said he won't make a decision about his future until the college season is complete.

"I have had zero conversations with Greg about this, and I promised (Ohio State coach) Thad (Matta) I wouldn't until after the season," Conley Sr. said.

Conley Sr. has extensive contacts in basketball. His former summer team included Oden, fellow Ohio State freshmen Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook, Duke's Josh McRoberts and North Central High School senior Eric Gordon -- all projected as future NBA players.

"I'm not being presumptuous at all," Conley Sr. said. "Getting into this business is not just for those individuals. I'm competitive. I want to be the best at what I do, and that's not going to stop when I enter the sports management business.

With some big-name young stars and a brand new niche agency, I wouldn't be shocked to see Mac Management group partner with another firm for marketing purposes, at least at first.