FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas All-SEC guard BJ Young is considering whether to leave for the NBA or return to the Razorbacks for his sophomore season.
Young has not hired an agent, but he has submitted his name for consideration for the 2012 NBA Draft, Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson announced Friday.
By not hiring an agent, Young retains his college eligibility, but there is an April 10 deadline for underclassmen to withdraw their name from the draft.
ESPN has projected Young as a late first-round draft choice for 2012.
“BJ is using this time to gather information about his draft potential,” Anderson said in a statement. “By submitting his name for consideration for this year’s draft, he will be able to find out what the scouts see in his game and make an informed decision about his future.”
Shortly after Arkansas issued a news release about Young exploring his draft options, he tweeted, “Not gone yet fans hold the horses.”
Young, listed at 6-3 and 175 pounds, averaged 15.3 points per game this season to lead the Razorbacks and top all SEC freshmen. He shot 50.4 percent from the field, including 41.3 percent (50 of 121) on three-pointers, and averaged 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 25.2 minutes per game.
“I love being a Razorback, and I see this as an opportunity to receive valuable feedback from the NBA advisory committee on my draft potential,” Young said in a statement. “I want to make sure that I have all the information possible before I choose what is best for me and my family.
“Once I am able to look over all the facts, I will have a discussion with my family and coaches and decide what is best.”
Young became the 17th college underclassman to submit his name for this year’s draft, and several more are likely to declare after the Final Four, including Kentucky’s Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger and Kansas’ Thomas Robinson.
Florida freshman guard Bradley Beal, a former high school rival of Young’s in St. Louis, also is expected to declare for the draft and is a projected top-10 pick by several websites.
Young said prior to Arkansas’ first-round loss to LSU at the SEC Tournament on March 8 he hadn’t given any thought to making himself available for the NBA Draft and that he planned to return to Arkansas. After the game, he said he was looking forward to next season with the Razorbacks.
“We have a bright future for our team,” Young said. “Our freshmen got some experience and we’re ready to go for next year.”
Young became the fifth Arkansas player to be honored by coaches with a spots on SEC All-Freshman Team and All-SEC second-team since the Razorbacks joined the conference for the 1991-1992 season. The other Razorbacks to have those dual honors are Scotty Thurman and Corliss Williamson in 1993, Joe Johnson in 2000 and Patrick Beverly in 2007.
Young scored 10 or more points in 27 of 32 games this season, with a career-high 31 against Florida. He was the first Arkansas freshman to score 30 or more points since Johnson had 30 against Mississippi State.
Sports, Pages 20 on 03/31/2012