<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 04.11.2006 Arizona junior guard Mustafa Shakur is expected to place his name in the 2006 NBA draft pool without jeopardizing his college eligibility. Coach Lute Olson and several UA assistants said Monday that Shakur would likely test the draft, which athletes can do once during their college careers if they do not hire an agent and pay most of their expenses. "He's going to announce" it, Olson said. "But he's not going to get an agent. "The other thing is, it's not a case of if he puts his name out there (he'll leave). There are a lot of people who put their names out there that come back, so I'm not concerned about it." Shakur's only short-term loss is that he will not join the Wildcats on their May 21-June 4 trip to Europe while he prepares for the draft. UA sophomore-to-be J.P. Prince is likely to receive many of the point-guard minutes on that trip. But in the long term, according to UA associate head coach Jim Rosborough, Shakur or any player leaving early could risk his NBA future if he does not play well in the pre-draft process. Point guard Jason Gardner tested the 2001 draft as a sophomore and returned to school for two more years before he went undrafted in 2003. "Every weakness he had was exposed, and those (NBA) guys didn't forget about it," Rosborough said. "That may have hurt him more in terms of his pro career than anything. So the risk is immense. But I don't say that in regards to Staf. I say that in regards to Jason and anybody thinking about doing that." Shakur was unavailable for comment Monday, after saying last week he would announce his plans Monday at the latest. "The guy who has to decide is Staf," Rosborough said. "Staf feels he played dang well the last couple of games, which he did. So if that's what he's basing it on, that's what he's basing it on." Shakur finished last season with averages of 8.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.5 rebounds with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.75-to-1. He had just five points on 2-for-5 shooting with two assists and five turnovers in UA's 71-59 loss to UCLA in the Pac-10 tournament semifinals but, over two NCAA tournament games, he went 13 of 24 from the field, scored 38 points and had 14 assists to just five turnovers. "I think he needs to use those games as a springboard and play that way on a consistent basis all the time," said UA assistant coach Miles Simon, who coaches the guards. "Then he will be fine for a pro career. He's a big guard who can handle the ball and his work ethic is second to none." Meanwhile, forward Marcus Williams remains undecided about whether to enter the draft after visiting with his mother and his AAU coach. Rosborough said NBA officials have estimated Williams might slip into the first round of the draft this year.</div> Source I think he'll test the waters but he'll comeback IMO Unless he goes insane in the Orlando pre-draft camp
