Adidas410s
04-24-2006, 03:54 PM
Texas junior forward P.J. Tucker will announce later Monday that he is putting his name in the NBA draft, but will not hire an agent, ESPN.com has learned.
Tucker led the Longhorns in scoring (16.1 points per game) and rebounding (9.5). Despite that productivity and improving his overall versatility, the 6-foot-5 inside player is considered a tweener by NBA standards.
Tucker's teammate, 7-foot sophomore LaMarcus Aldridge, already has declared for the draft and is considered a prime lottery candidate. Sophomore guard Daniel Gibson said at the Texas team banquet he planned to return to school.
However, Gibson's father told the Austin American-Statesman that Gibson was likely to submit his name for the draft as well. Like Tucker, Gibson also planned to keep his college eligibility while testing his draft status, Byron Gibson said.
If either or both interior players return to Austin, Texas will be considered a legitimate 2007 national title candidate. They'd be joined by 2005-06 reserves A.J. Abrams and Mike Williams and another strong Rick Barnes recruiting class, highlighted by McDonald's All-American Kevin Durant.
Texas finished the season 30-7, losing in the Atlanta Region final to LSU.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Tucker led the Longhorns in scoring (16.1 points per game) and rebounding (9.5). Despite that productivity and improving his overall versatility, the 6-foot-5 inside player is considered a tweener by NBA standards.
Tucker's teammate, 7-foot sophomore LaMarcus Aldridge, already has declared for the draft and is considered a prime lottery candidate. Sophomore guard Daniel Gibson said at the Texas team banquet he planned to return to school.
However, Gibson's father told the Austin American-Statesman that Gibson was likely to submit his name for the draft as well. Like Tucker, Gibson also planned to keep his college eligibility while testing his draft status, Byron Gibson said.
If either or both interior players return to Austin, Texas will be considered a legitimate 2007 national title candidate. They'd be joined by 2005-06 reserves A.J. Abrams and Mike Williams and another strong Rick Barnes recruiting class, highlighted by McDonald's All-American Kevin Durant.
Texas finished the season 30-7, losing in the Atlanta Region final to LSU.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.