NBA Draft

According to the Tulsa World, Oklahoma State junior guard JamesOn Curry is leaning towards returning to the Cowboys for his senior season, rather than stay in the NBA Draft. He declined an interview request from them, but indicated through an OSU sports information spokesman that he is leaning toward coming back to school. The third-team All-Big 12 selection averaged 17.3 points and 3.7 assists per game last season. He is not projected to be drafted by most mock drafts.

According to the Oakland Tribune, California junior center Devon Hardin is likely to return to the Golden Bears for his senior season, rather than keep his name in the NBA Draft. "Unless I'm that No.1 (overall) pick, Cal is going to be a top option for me," Hardin said. “That's what my mind-set is right now. I'm working out right now and looking forward to coming back to Cal. That's the only certain answer you can get from me." He is excited about the chance to lead Cal to the Big Dance. “I want to take my team deep into the (NCAA) tournament, maybe to the Final Four, be a lottery pick,” Hardin said. “I expect great things from this (2007-08) team.” Hardin is projected by most mock drafts to be drafted in the latter part of the first round. He averaged 10.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season over the first twelve games, before missing the last 22 contests with a stress fracture in his left foot.

According to ESPN.com’s Andy Katz, Georgia Tech freshman Thaddeus Young is leaning towards staying in the NBA Draft. "Right now, I want to play in the NBA,” Young said. Young also told ESPN.com that he was mentally and physically ready to play in the NBA, but he wants some sort of guarantee that he will be selected. Young, who averaged 14.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season, is projected as a late lottery to mid-first round pick.

According to Andy Katz of ESPN.com, Ohio State freshman Daequan Cook is likely to stay in the NBA Draft, barring an injury in the next two weeks. "Right now, I'm all the way in," Cook said. "There's no question [he's staying in the draft] unless an injury comes up. Right now it's just in case anything could happen until June 18 so you have to be ready for anything." He says that he is going to sign with Mike Conley Sr., who also represents Buckeye teammates Mike Conley Jr. and Greg Oden. Cook, who averaged 9.8 points and 4.3 rebounds last season, is projected as a first-round pick.

Brandon Rush is returning to Kansas for his junior season, withdrawing from the 2007 NBA Draft. The shooting guard injured his knee in a workout on Wednesday. Rush was projected to be a late first round pick, and his return is a major boost to Kansas' 2008 Final Four hopes.

Georgia Tech point guard Javaris Crittenton will remain in the 2007 NBA Draft. The freshman is projected as a mid-first round pick, and based his decision in part on the week crop of point guard prospects.

According to the Washington Post, Georgetown junior center Roy Hibbert is going to announce that he will withdraw his name from the NBA Draft and return to the Hoyas for his senior season. Both he and Jeff Green are expected to make announcements regarding their draft status today.

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, New Orleans junior guard Bo McCalebb has withdrawn his name from the NBA Draft. "I just wanted to get my name out there," McCalebb said. "My whole intention was to come back to school." He also said that he was not upset about the lack of an invitation to the Orlando pre-draft camp. "I wasn't really that disappointed," he said. "I was probably coming back to school even if I had been invited. The Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year averaged 25.0 points per game last season, good enough for sixth in the country, and also chipped in with 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest.

Not surprisingly, North Carolina freshman forward Brandan Wright has announced that he will hire an agent, closing the option of returning to the Tar Heels. He will be represented by Jim Tanner of the Williams and Connolly law firm in Washington, D.C. “I felt comfortable with Jim and the Williams and Connolly team from the start, and I am confident that they will help me achieve my career goals," Wright said. Wright, who averaged 14.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season, is projected to be the third pick in the NBA Draft.

According to the Los Angeles Times, USC junior guard Gabe Pruitt has announced that he will sign with an agent, closing the option he had of returning to the Trojans. "I just felt that it was in my best interest to move on with my basketball career and focus fully on basketball right now," said Pruitt. "I talked it over with my family and I made the final decision. I still love the Trojan family and I still will support them as if I was still there." Pruitt, who joins fellow Trojan junior Nick Young in the official early-entry pool, averaged 12.5 points and 4.3 assists per game last season. He is projected as a late first-round pick in most mock drafts.