"Playing professional basketball is definitely a goal of mine and we have a very good team here at BYU," Plaisted said, "so either way I think my options are good."

By making himself eligible for the draft, Plaisted can be invited to pre-draft camps designed to evaluate potential draft choices and participate in workouts with NBA teams. College underclassmen have until April 27 to declare for the draft. Student-athletes who have not signed with an agent can return to college by withdrawing from the draft by June 16.

Plaisted, a 6-foot-11, 245-pound native of San Antonio, Texas, and first team All-Mountain West Conference selection this past season, led BYU to its second consecutive MWC regular-season title. He averaged 15.6 points and 7.7 rebounds a game.

The Cougars, who also qualified for the NCAA Tournament, appeared in the top-25 rankings for eight weeks and finished the year with a 27-8 record, the second-most wins in school history.

Plaisted averaged 20.6 points and 12.3 rebounds against top-10 Louisville, North Carolina and Michigan State.