Freshman forward Anthony Randolph will hold a press conference this morning regarding his future plans with LSU.
Randolph will announce his intentions to enter the NBA draft, The Times-Picayune reported Monday afternoon.
Players contacted Monday said the team had not been told about the press conference or what it regarded.
It is still unclear whether Randolph has hired an agent.
If he does not hire an agent, he would maintain his eligibility to potentially return for his sophomore season.
Reports began to circulate late this past week linking Randolph to agent B.J. Armstrong of the Wasserman Media Group.
“I actually hadn’t heard that he signed an agent, but it doesn’t surprise me if that, in fact, is the case,” NBADraft.net’s Aran Smith told The Daily Reveille on Thursday. “The assumption is that he’s going this year. There’s pretty much no doubt about that.”
ESPN’s Chad Ford ranks Randolph as the No. 5 prospect if he declares early, and various mock drafts project Randolph in the top 10.
Smith said Monday he had not heard any new information regarding Randolph’s status.
But Randolph spent most of the season saying he planned to return for another season.
“I would say there’s a 90 percent chance I’m coming back here,” Randolph told The Daily Reveille on March 10. “I like it here. I like the coaching staff, the players, the fans and the whole LSU atmosphere.”
Randolph also said interim coach Butch Pierre’s future with the team would affect his decision.
“He’s part of the reason why I came here, and he has helped me get to where I am right now with his coaching and mentoring on and off the court,” Randolph said.
But several reports began to circulate Wednesday that Massachusetts coach Travis Ford is the leading candidate for the men’s basketball coaching vacancy.
Dan Parker of Parker Executive Search, the search firm handling the coaching search, denied those reports Wednesday, saying an athletic director would be chosen before a coach.
LSU named Joe Alleva its next athletic director Friday, and acting Chancellor William Jenkins said there is now “clearly a short time table” to select a new coach.
“They will be intensely engaged in this conversation beginning Monday,” said LSU System President John Lombardi on Friday. “[The] prime time to do this is when the Final Four is winding down, and there are fewer and fewer coaches that are still playing. Therefore, as soon as they stop play, they can talk to them.”
The basketball season ended Monday night with the NCAA championship game between Kansas and Memphis.
Massachusetts finished its season Thursday with a loss in the National Invitation Tournament championship.
—-Contact Jerit Roser at [email protected]