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Report: Mason Plumlee to forego senior year, enter NBA draft

Screen Shot 2012-03-22 at 11.39.35 AM

As first reported by TV analyst and former Duke point guard Jay Williams, Blue Devil forward Mason Plumlee will enter the NBA draft.

Plumlee, a junior, averaged almost 11 points and nine rebounds per game in 2011-12 for a Duke team that lost in the Round of 64 to underdog Lehigh.

The Indiana native has an NBA-sized body at 6-10, 235 pounds, and is projected to go in the mid-first round of the draft.

He is athletic for his size and is effective around the rim, where he rebounds and gets put-backs with consistency. As he moves his game away from the basket, he could be an asset at the NBA level.

Mason is one of three from the Plumlee family to work his way through the Duke basketball program. Miles is a senior set to graduate in the spring and Marshall is currently a freshman.

Teammate Austin Rivers is expected to enter into the NBA draft as well.

NCAA rules hold that an early-entry player can return to school by April 10, so long as he retains his amateur status. The NBA’s early-entry deadline is April 29.

Other players who have declared for the 2012 NBA draft:

Maalik Wayns of Villanova

Moe Harkless of St. John’s

Royce White of Iowa State

UPDATE 1:55 p.m.: Jeff Goodman of CBS is reporting that, though Plumlee may ultimately end up leaving for the NBA, he has not yet made a final decision.

Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_