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Gators sophomore center Marreese Speights will enter his name into June's NBA draft but plans not to hire an agent, giving himself a chance to change his mind and return to UF next year.
Coach Billy Donovan confirmed the news Wednesday, promising in a statement that he would help Speights gather information on where he stands in the draft.
Underclassmen who do not hire an agent have until June 16 to pull their names from the draft pool.
Speights could not be reached for comment Wednesday. His mother, Regina Glenn, said over the weekend that she had not discussed the decision with her son before he made it.
"I just told him, 'Marreese, this is your decision" she said by telephone. "You need to do what's right for you, and whatever you decide, we will support you all the way."
Most Internet projections have slotted Speights to go in the first round of this draft.
The 6-10, 250-pounder from St. Petersburg has proved himself as a solid scorer and rebounder after averaging 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season. But his defense, inconsistent at best throughout the season, could keep him out of round one.
Speights' early departure makes him the seventh Gator to leave early in the past three years.
That group includes Matt Walsh and Anthony Roberson in 2005, then Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green last April.
Other players who announced Tuesday that they would enter the draft include Alabama's Ronald Steele, LSU's Anthony Randolph and Arizona's Chase Budinger.
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