Jabari Brown declares for NBA draft, does not yet sign with an agent

As expected, Missouri's Jabari Brown has announced that he is joining Jordan Clarkson in declaring for the 2014 NBA Draft. Unlike Clarkson, however, Brown is evidently not ruling out the possibility of returning to school. He has until April 15 to decide one way or another.

Here's the official announcement via MUtigers.com:

The decision by Brown makes the Oakland, Calif., native eligible for feedback from the Association office and gives him the opportunity to sign with an agent or return to Missouri for his senior season. Underclassmen have until April 15 to withdraw their name from consideration and retain collegiate eligibility.

"This was a step I needed to take in order to make the most educated decision possible with regards to my NBA opportunities," Jabari Brown said. "My time here at Mizzou has been incredible. This is a special place and a second home for me. However, I must approach this looking at the bigger picture. This is a decision that impacts my family as well and that is most important to me."

"Jabari's approach to life and basketball is so impressive," Head Coach Frank Haith said. "So many things right now point for him to enter the draft, hire an agent and move forward, but he will do his due diligence in this process and then make the decision best for him and his family. I am really proud of Jabari and know Tiger fans are too with how he has conducted himself in the face of such great adversity this year."

Brown was the motor of Missouri's 2013-14 NIT squad. He averaged 19.9 points per game on 47 percent shooting and got to the line 266 times in 35 games. It will be interesting to see what feedback he gets from NBA. He is a natural scorer who proved this season that he can put points on the board even when his jumper isn't falling, but he is still a 6'5 shooting guard trying to get access to a league full of 6'8 shooting guards. His defense is iffy, but he can score. We'll see if that's enough.

Regardless, Brown's offensive heart was one of the most redeeming aspects of the 2013-14 season; it peaked with the Kentucky loss, when he scored 33 points on 10-for-17 shooting and dunked on heads.

It would be fantastic to see what he might do as a senior and get a chance to honor him on senior night, but he has a good support system in his corner, and he is likely to make the right choice, one way or the other.