Mercer Jumping To Nba

Intent on removing all distractions as Kentucky pursues a second straight NCAA title, Ron Mercer is giving up his last two years of eligibility to enter the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-7 sophomore forward, the leading scorer in the Southeastern Conference, is expected to be one of the top selections in the June draft.

“I have a team to take care of and I want that to be my main focus,” Mercer said Wednesday in making his widely anticipated announcement. “That’s why I’m doing this now so I can put it behind me and focus on winning another championship.”

Mercer, a finalist for player of the year awards, is averaging 18.1 points and 5.3 rebounds a game.