MSU Freshman forward Erazem Lorbek will forego his remaining three years of eligibility and enter next month's NBA Draft.

On Friday, Lorbek said in a statement he made the decision a week earlier while discussing his career with his father during a trip to Germany. He's already signed with an agent, making him ineligible to return to collegiate basketball.

Despite figuring to be a starter on an MSU team that is projected to be ranked in the top-five nationally next season, Lorbek said his decision was sound.

"When I got home after the season, my dad and I talked about this decision," Lorbek said. "Playing at Michigan State really helped me a lot. I knew we were going to have a great team this year, and I love my teammates and the coaches have been great, but I decided to do what was best for me. I feel comfortable with my decision."

Lorbek said he is a potential first-round selection.

A 6-foot-10 native of Ljubljana, Slovenia, Lorbek showed promise and stark improvement in his lone season as a Spartan. He averaged 6.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, and his 11.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest in MSU's run to the Elite Eight earned him an All-South Region selection.

Lorbek's decision left teammates and coaches in relative shock. He said he had not discussed his decision to enter the draft with head coach Tom Izzo prior to Friday's announcement.

"I think next year would have really helped him," Izzo said in a statement. "It would have helped us. But it would've really helped him.

"People get caught up in listening to the wrong people. There are some good people advising people. And there are some bad ones."

His decision to opt out of his college eligibility was the fourth instance in three years of a key Spartan leaving school early for the professional ranks. Last season, Marcus Taylor left as a sophomore, and in 2001, forward Jason Richardson and center Zach Randolph left as a sophomore and freshman respectively.

"I enjoyed having Erazem for a year," Izzo told reporters. "But that means we've lost four players early in the past three years. Somewhere there's good news in that. I'm just not sure I can find it today."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.