Chris Boucher and Dillon Brooks declare for the NBA draft

Word came down Thursday afternoon that two Oregon basketball players have declared for the NBA draft. Current junior Chris Boucher and current sophomore Dillon Brooks have both thrown their names in to be considered for the NBA.

The good news for Oregon fans is that neither of the two players hired an agent, meaning that they have retained their college eligibility for the moment. Under the new rule from the NCAA, players are able to declare for the draft and not hire an agent. This allows the players to go through the pre-draft combine for a more realistic look at their draft stock before deciding what to do. The players will have until May 25th to decide whether they hire an agent and stick in the draft or to return to Eugene.

In many mock drafts the two players are projected as late second round picks to potentially undrafted. Perhaps a good pre draft combine process could change that for the two Canadians. The news is interesting in the fact that Brooks sounded confident in returning and Boucher just had a former teammate of his in Kavell Bigby-Williams join his Ducks roster. However, you certainly can't blame the two players for testing the waters.

Brooks led Oregon with his 16.7 points per game last season while Boucher was dominant for Oregon in his first season in Eugene by controlling the paint with his near three blocks per game.

Now Oregon fans wait the decision of the two players along with another potential player in Tyler Dorsey deciding to jump and a decision from the NCAA regarding another year of eligibility for Dylan Ennis. Time for some patience.

****UPDATE****

Jeff Goodman is now reporting that Dana Altman has told ESPN that Boucher will not be testing the NBA water while Dorsey and Brooks are still deciding.