Coming Out Party

Just days away from the April 27th deadline for underclassmen entering the NBA Draft, there's been a flurry of new declarations.

• The Texas Longhorns are in danger of losing their starting backcourt to The Association, as both D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams announced their entries this week. Neither will hire an agent, leaving open the possibility that one or both could return to Texas in the fall -- but Augustin is generally considered a lock for the first round, so a junior season in Austin seems like a remote possibility. A return for Abrams -- who at 5'11" is very small by NBA standards -- is more likely.
• Final Four hero Mario Chalmers will also enter the draft without hiring an agent. Chalmers will return to the Jayhawks if he isn't certain of a spot in the first round; he's currently projected in the late first to early second.
• Speaking of the Final Four, the entire Memphis Tiger starting lineup is now available in the draft now that Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier have declared their intentions. They join probable top-two pick Derrick Rose, potential mid-to-late first rounder Chris Douglas-Roberts and late first/early second round big man (and senior) Joey Dorsey. Neither Anderson nor Dozier is considered a major NBA prospect at this point, and it's likely both will withdraw from the draft and return to Memphis.
• Mississippi State guard Jamont Gordon is also in the draft, but his status is somewhat uncertain. Players have the option of entering the draft and withdrawing without losing NCAA eligibility -- but they can only do so once. Gordon put in his draft paperwork last season -- but withdrew after just two days and as a result didn't appear on any official "early entry" lists. As such, it's not really clear whether or not he'll have the option to return to school -- and no official ruling is expected until after Sunday's entry deadline has passed. Gordon has reportedly been told he's a first-round prospect, but most mock drafts have him projected in the mid-to-late second.

More:

• 2008 Mock NBA Draft
• Early Entries
• NBA Draft Calendar