LOS ANGELES -- UCLA's Dijon Thompson will declare himself
eligible for the NBA draft but leave open the possibility of
returning for his senior season.
"I owe it to myself and my senior season to see where I
stand," he said Wednesday. "I'm trying to better myself for next
season."
Like Stanford's Josh Childress, who has declared for the June 24
draft, Thompson won't hire an agent, leaving him the option of
returning to school.
"He's anxious to get his name out there," coach Ben Howland
said.
Thompson must send the NBA a letter expressing his draft
interest by May 10. He plans to attend a pre-draft camp in Chicago
on June 8-11.
"It's to get feedback from the NBA on what I need to work on to
better myself as a player," he said. "If they say I'm not ready,
it's a no-brainer. I'll come back and keep preparing myself."
Thompson also is awaiting results from a survey of NBA general
managers and scouts on his abilities.
If he doesn't like what he hears about his draft potential, he
has until June 17 to withdraw his name from consideration.
Howland recalled how Saint Joseph's Jameer Nelson benefited from
attending last year's pre-draft camp in Chicago. Nelson ended up
returning for his senior season and was chosen AP national player
of the year.
"People who run this camp meet with the kids. They told Nelson
to go back to school," Howland said.
Meanwhile, Thompson is attending classes this quarter and
participating in the Bruins' spring workouts. He is on schedule to
graduate next winter with a history degree.
"He'll improve quite a bit between now and next year in our
system," Howland said. "The key to our success next season is how
the returning players in this program perform and what they do to
get better."
Thompson was UCLA's leading scorer with 14.4 points a game last
season. The Bruins finished 11-17, completing consecutive losing
seasons for the first time in 62 years. They started 5-0 in Pac-10
play, then went 2-14 the rest of the way under first-year coach
Howland.
Thompson, a 6-foot-7 guard-forward, was forced to play most of
the season at shooting guard because of injuries. However, his
natural position is small forward.
"I've told myself I'll play whatever he wants me to play,"
Thompson said, referring to Howland.
Thompson has discussed his plans with his parents and teammates,
who he said are supportive.
"I'm going about this in the right way," he said. "I'm
leaving myself an option to come back."
Other than Thompson, the Bruins lose leading rebounder T.J.
Cummings, guard Jon Crispin and center John Hoffart.