- Bluto, Animal House
Top college basketball players rarely follow the "Bluto" plan when it comes to the college experience... the best of the best will typically spend a year -- maybe two -- on campus before making the jump to the NBA. But occasionally we get a surprise... heck, Blake Griffin was supposed to be a lottery pick in 2008, but he returned to Oklahoma for his sophomore year and was college basketball's top player this season.
Bear in mind -- some of the players who have declared for the draft will be back in school this fall. Players who declare for the draft but don't hire agents have the option of returning to college, and may do if they don't have assurances they'll be drafted in a certain position or by a certain team. The deadline to withdraw from the draft is June 15th -- the draft itself will be held on June 25th.
Once a player signs with an agent, there's no turning back.
Here's a look at the underclassmen that have declared themselves eligible for the 2009 NBA Draft:
NBA Draft: 2009 Early Entries
Some of the biggest stars in the college game, these players are all but guaranteed to hear their names called at Madison Square Garden -- though one or two might return for another year at the NCAA level.- DeJuan Blair - Pittsburgh (So. - F)
Blair's draft stock will never be higher; another year in school means risking another knee injury. - Chase Budinger - Arizona (Jr. - F)
The hyper-athletic Budinger would be a great fit on one of the NBA's up-tempo squads. - Nick Calathes - Florida (So. - G/F)
Expected to go pro one way or the other -- in Greece, if not the NBA. - Earl Clark - Louisville (Jr. - G/F)
Has the body type that NBA scouts look for . - Stephen Curry - Davidson (Jr. - G)
Nothing more for Curry to prove at Davidson -- makes sense for him to declare as part of what seems to be a weak draft. - Austin Daye - Gonzaga (So. - F)
Tremendous talent, but inconsistent. May be better off playing one more year at Gonzaga. - DeMar DeRozan - USC (Fr. - F)
Written off after a very slow start, DeRozan was one of the top guards in the nation by the end of the year. - Eric Devendorf - Syracuse (Jr. - G)
Will reportedly hire an agent -- Jim Boeheim won't miss Devendorf's off-court behavior. - Wayne Ellington - North Carolina (Jr. - G)
An outstanding NCAA Tournament should enhance Ellington's draft stock. - Tyreke Evans - Memphis (Fr. - G)
A sure-fire lottery pick, projects as an elite scorer in the NBA. - Jonny Flynn - Syracuse (So. - G)
Flynn could be the second (behind Spain's Ricky Rubio) or third point guard drafted this year. - Blake Griffin - Oklahoma (So. - F)
The prohibitive favorite to be picked first overall. - James Harden - Arizona State (So. - G)
A skilled scorer with NBA size; a lock for the lottery. - Paul Harris - Syracuse (Jr. - F)
Harris is a power forward in a shooting guard's body, which will scare off a lot of NBA suitors. - Gerald Henderson - Duke (Jr. - G/F)
A strong season probably pushed Henderson into the lottery. - Jordan Hill - Arizona (Jr. - F)
Could be the first big man selected after Griffin and Thabeet. - Jrue Holiday - UCLA (Fr. - G)
Didn't dominate as a freshman, but many scouts still love his potential. - James Johnson - Wake Forest (So. - F)
Likely a mid-to-late first rounder. - Ty Lawson - North Carolina (Jr. - G)
Like Ellington, Lawson's dominant performance in March Madness improved his standing significantly. - Ater Majok - Connecticut (Fr. - F)
Didn't play as a freshman -- and due to his involvement in the Uconn recruiting scandal, probably won't play as a soph, either. The draft -- or an overseas pro contract -- might be his best options. - Jodie Meeks - Kentucky (Jr. - G)
Can't help but wonder if Meeks could improve his draft stock by playing for John Calipari for a year. - Nate Miles - Southern Idaho (Fr. - G)
The other featured player in the UConn recruiting scandal -- it's hard to envision an NBA team taking a chance on Miles. D-League? - Patrick Mills - Saint Mary's (So. - G)
He certainly looked like an NBA player at last summer's Olympics… - B.J. Mullens - Ohio State (Fr. - C)
Another Ohio State center declaring as a freshman… Mullens didn't dominate last season, but you can't teach size. - Tyler Smith - Tennessee (Jr. - F)
Could return to school if he's not guaranteed a spot in the first round. - DaJuan Summers - Georgetown (Jr. - F)
The Hoyas' disappointing season didn't help Summers' draft position. - Jeff Teague - Wake Forest (So. - G)
Teague -- and Wake -- tailed off badly at the end of the season, but most think he's still a first-round prospect. - Hasheem Thabeet - Connecticut (Jr. - C)
Opinions on Thabeet's upside potential may vary -- will he be a complete player, or just a defensive force? Either way, he's a lock for the high end of the lottery.
