Texas freshman Kevin Durant will declare for the NBA draft, the Dallas Morning News reports, citing two unnamed sources close to the Longhorns basketball program.
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Durant could declare his intentions as soon as Tuesday, according to the report. However, a Texas spokesman told the Morning News that neither he nor coach Rick Barnes were aware that a news conference announcing Durant's intentions was imminent.
The Houston Chronicle reported that Durant is expected to make a decision by the middle of this week.
Durant and his family did not talk to reporters after the team banquet Monday night in Austin, Texas. Barnes said he expects Durant will make an announcement soon.
"I think he'll make a quick decision," Barnes said, noting that Durant's family would remain in town with him for another day or so. "Now it's a matter of [Durant and his family] deciding and putting it together."
Barnes said Durant has not yet told him what he'll do.
"He's made history. No one's done what he did this year. He swept every major award as a freshman. It's a year we may not ever see again by anybody. It's remarkable," Barnes said.
Durant still has plenty of time to think about his decision. Players have until April 29 to declare for the NBA draft, which takes place June 28 in New York.
"Right now, I don't even know," the 6-foot-9 swingman, a sure bet to be one of the first players picked should he decide to go pro, said Saturday in Los Angeles when he picked up the John. R. Wooden Award.
"I'm just enjoying the moment, having fun," Durant said Saturday. "When the time comes, I'll make the right decision."
Durant is considered a lock to be one of the first two players chosen in the draft and a likely candidate to be the first overall pick. He averaged 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game as the Longhorns went 25-10 and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Barnes says he has advised Durant to follow his heart.
"The one thing I do know he's going to do is finish school," Barnes said, according to the Dallas Morning News. "That's one thing I don't worry about. He's going to do that part of it."
