Jeffries chooses NBA over IU

He's gone. \nOne week after IU's loss to Maryland in the NCAA Tournament championship game, IU sophomore Jared Jeffries declared himself eligible for the June NBA Draft, forgoing his final two years of eligibility. \n"All my life, I've had two dreams -- the first was to hear my name called on college graduation day," Jeffries said in a press conference in Assembly Hall Monday afternoon, when he made the formal announcement. "The second was to hear my name called in the NBA Draft."\nJeffries, a Bloomington High School North graduate, said he plans to hire an agent as early as today. That decision will make him ineligible to return to IU for his junior season. The former Indiana Mr. Basketball had until May 12 to enter the draft. \nJeffries becomes the second player in as many years to leave the program early. Kirk Haston left IU after his junior season and was selected 16th by the Charlotte Hornets. Haston, who redshirted a season for the Hoosiers, earned his degree before leaving. \nJeffries, a communications major, will finish classes this semester at IU and said he plans to earn his degree in "four or five summers." \nJoining Jeffries for the press conference were his mother, father, grandmother and brother. IU coach Mike Davis was not present, as he was home with the flu. Davis' wife, Tamilya, was there. Jeffries said he notified Davis of his decision Wednesday, but the two have not spoken in the last 48 hours. \n"He was very supportive," said Jeffries of Davis. "I'm going to talk to him all the time. We're very good friends. Maybe he will coach my son someday (in the NBA). You never know."\nJeffries, who averaged 15 points and 7.6 rebounds per game and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, fizzled during both of IU's Final Four games. The 6-foot-10, 215-pound Jeffries scored just 16 points in the two games and finished his career against Maryland by going four of 11 from the field. \n"I don't know if you can base a decision on one or two games," Jeffries said. "I would have loved to have scored 20 points and win a national title, but that didn't happen, so you can't worry about that."\nJeffries finished one point shy of becoming the 36th player in IU history to record 1,000 career points and would have been just the sixth sophomore to do so. \nHis naysayers point to his disappointing performance in the Final Four and his lack of bulk as deterrents for entering the draft. \n"He could use another year to round out his game," Rivalshoops.com college basketball analyst Mike Sullivan said. "I think it would help tremendously. There's so much homework you have to do; hopefully, he's done that."\nAt least one teammate was sure Jeffries is ready now. \n"With his talent, he'd be crazy not to go," IU senior guard Dane Fife said after IU's loss to Maryland.\nJeffries said he isn't sure where he'll be selected, but seems confident he'll be a first-round pick. Jeffries plans to attend a pre-draft camp in Chicago, after which he will have a better idea regarding his draft position. \nAfter deciding after his freshman season to continue at IU rather than head for the draft, Jeffries said he knew his intentions nearly all season. His parents asked him to stay after his freshman season, but saw nothing wrong with his decision to leave now. \n"The only way I was going to influence that is if I felt he was doing something outlandish," said Jeffries' father, Tom. \nTom and Jared spent the weekend fishing in Kentucky and discussed the younger Jeffries' future there, after the clamor of IU's first Final Four run since 1992 died down. \nBut by then, the IU standout needed only reassurance. After spending time this season talking to players his same age who have entered the NBA Draft early -- including former Indiana high school standout Zach Randolph -- Jeffries, decided it was time to go. \n"My dad made a very good point: The best way to prepare is on the job," Jeffries said.\n"I'm going to prepare myself for the NBA, and the best way to do that is on the job."\nWith an often-criticized body, Jeffries said he understands he will have to spend time adding weight and rounding out his game. He said he wasn't sure what position he'll play, and Sullivan agrees, saying Jeffries doesn't fit into any prototypical NBA position.\nJeffries said he's not making the decision to silence doubters and said he hopes IU fans anxious for one more year with Jeffries in the Hoosier frontcourt understand his move. \nDuring his two-year stay at IU, Jeffries helped IU return to its glory of nearly a decade ago by leading the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten title since 1993 and the first NCAA championship game since 1987. \n"I realize in no way am I a finished basketball product," Jeffries said. "I know I must develop in order to meet the demands of NBA basketball, but there's no looking back now. At a certain point, you have to make decisions for yourself. I would love to be back with this team. But, I also feel like the opportunity for me to play in the NBA is now"