Originally published Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Gonzaga's Austin Daye will consider jump to NBA

Sophomore forward says he'll talk with family and coaches before making a decision.

Seattle Times staff reporter

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Gonzaga sophomore forward Austin Daye said Friday night he will decide soon on whether to leave the Zags and enter the NBA draft two years early.

"I'm going to talk to my coaches, talk to my family, get home on Easter break and probably come to a conclusion then," Daye said after Gonzaga's 98-77 loss to North Carolina.

As for what might be the driving factor in the decision, Daye wasn't specific, saying, "Family stuff ... we're going to make a good decision."

Outside the Gonzaga locker room was his father, Darren, a former forward at UCLA and in the NBA.

"He knows he has work to put in," the senior Daye said. "As far as his decision, I'm clueless."

Daye hasn't been in mock drafts recently, probably because of uncertainty on whether he will come out. One course would be to enter the draft and not sign with an agent, a common path players take to retain eligibility.

"It's a possibility," said Darren Daye. "I'm not saying anything right now."

As for what might be the determining factor for his son in the decision, Daye said, "If he were going high enough in the first round, it would make sense."

Meanwhile, junior Matt Bouldin said of the NBA, "I really haven't thought about anything like that. I'm just trying to learn from this [game] and get better."

Bud Withers: 206-464-8281 or bwithers@seattletimes.com

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