Oregon State's Jones declares for NBA draft

Apr 12, 2007, 17:10 GMT

Corvallis, OR - Oregon State junior forward Marcel Jones announced on Thursday that he has placed his name on the early-entry list for the upcoming NBA draft.

Jones also announced that he has not hired an agent and that there is a strong possibility he will return to the Beavers for his senior season.

'I think I will learn a lot going through this process,' Jones said. 'It's a great opportunity to hear some constructive criticism about my game from people in the NBA and how I can make myself a better player. It's going to be tough and the process is going to be extensive, but it's going to teach me a lot. It's a chance to see where I'm at against all the great players across the country.'

Jones led Oregon State in scoring this past season, averaging 15.3 points per game.

'My plan is to come back to Oregon State,' added Jones. 'But I'd like to test the waters and see what happens. It's a dream of everybody that plays college sports to further their careers professionally. If I don't stay in the draft, then when I come back to OSU I know people will have raised expectations for me. I'll come back a better player and ready to make us a better team.'

The deadline for Jones to withdraw his name from draft consideration is June 18. The draft is scheduled for June 28 in New York.

© 2007 The Sports Network