Jared Jeffries heard people say he ought to return to Indiana for his junior season because the chance to earn millions as a professional would be there down the road. But in announcing his intentions to make himself eligible for this summer’s NBA Draft on Monday, he said the opportunity to pursue his college degree will be there in the future as well.

"People always say the NBA is going to be there," said Jeffries. "But college is always going to be there, also. So if you have the opportunity to live out your dream and really develop as a basketball player, you have to look at that option."

Jeffries did just that, and became the first IU sophomore to declare for the NBA Draft since Jay Edwards did so following the 1988-89 season.

Jeffries also is the second player in two years to depart the IU program early. A year ago, Kirk Haston left after his junior season, and was subsequently selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 16th pick of the first round.

Haston went through the NBA Pre-Draft camps without hiring an agent, thus keeping open the possibility that he could withdraw his name and return to IU for his final season. Jeffries, though, said he intends to hire an agent within the next several days.

He leaves Indiana after earning second-team All-America honors and the Big Ten Player of the Year award as a sophomore. He led Indiana in both scoring (15.0 points/game) and rebounding (7.6/game) and helped guide the team to a share of the Big Ten Championship and a berth in the NCAA Championship game.

While many held out hope that Jeffries would opt to return for his junior season, it was a decision that Jeffries felt confident about for most of the season. He said he was very close to heading to the NBA a year ago, but opted to return to try to put himself in a better position for the draft.

He has done that, and is now headed for the pro ranks.

"This year, I had full intentions if I was able to have a good year, and be able to put myself in a position where I felt I could go in the draft where I wanted to, I’d try to explore that option," said Jeffries.

Most NBA Draft analysts have the 6-10, 215-pounder slotted to go in the early to mid-first round. NBA Draft.net has him slotted to go seventh, while just about everyone else has him in the 7-15 range.

Jeffries said he knows that he still has some areas of his game to improve before he fully develops his potential.

"I realize in no way am I a finished basketball product," said Jeffries. "I know I must develop in order to meet the demands of NBA basketball."

Jeffries’ father, Tom, told his son that there’s no reason he can’t continue to develop as a player on the next level.

"My dad made a very good point to me – the best way to prepare for something is on the job," said Jeffries. "And to prepare my body and myself for the NBA, the best way for me to do that is on the job."

Among the people Jeffries thanked were his teammates and the coaching staff, which helped put him in a position to fulfill his dream to play in the NBA.

""I could have never imagined I’d be given the opportunity to play NBA basketball so early," said Jeffries. "But Coach (Mike) Davis and his staff have done a great job of helping me to get to this point so far, they have me ahead of schedule."

While his attention will now turn to pre-draft camps and going through individual workouts for teams, Jeffries said that he fully intends to finish his college degree down the road.

"I want to reiterate that I declare my intentions to get my degree sooner or later," said Jeffries. "I always want to be a positive influence to my brother, Justin. Always show him how important school is, and how important it is to work hard in school and do well and have good grades.

"I want to be able to look back at him and show him I did get my college degree."