Erazem Lorbek is going pro - again.
Lorbek surprised the Spartan nation following MSU's Elite Eight appearance with what some believe a premature announcement that he would forgo his three remaining years of eligibility and enter his name in the NBA's draft.
But the 6-foot-10 Slovenian will formally announce today his decision to withdraw his interest in the NBA's June 26 draft so he can pursue playing professional basketball in Europe, said his father, Radovan Lorbek, on Wednesday.
Whether Lorbek will commit to the NBA in a year remains unknown.
"He will play next year in Europe and he will decide from the season," Radovan Lorbek said. "To play in the NBA, you have to be a grown up player. He is not ready for the NBA yet. He will probably need one or two more years in Europe."
Today is the last day an athlete can withdraw his name from the NBA draft.
Lorbek was in Turkey with the Slovenian National Team on Wednesday and could not be reached for comment. His agent, David Bauman of SFX Sports Group, also could not be reached for comment.
Radovan Lorbek, who Lorbek credits for much of his influence to leave early, says he hopes his 19-year-old son will suit up in Spain or Italy.
Lorbek might have a reunion of sorts with former Spartan teammates sophomore center Paul Davis and sophomore guard Maurice Ager in the 2003 FIBA Men's Junior World Championship Tournament in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Ager and Davis are finalists for the 12-member squad and could be selected for the team by July 6. A U.S. and Slovenian matchup in the July 10-20 tournament could pit Davis against Lorbek - a duo many Spartan fans hoped would dominate together in the upcoming season.
"We're going to go at it on the court," Davis said.
Davis said he could understand Lorbek's decision to develop in Europe - a seemingly more popular choice for players who have a world of potential and are lured financially.
"Nowadays, more and more are going over there to develop," Davis said. "Especially for guys who already are from there. I, personally, prefer playing in college."
As a Spartan, Lorbek averaged 6.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game and 11.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest in MSU's run to the Elite Eight, which earned him an All-South Region selection.
NBAdraft.net doesn't rank Lorbek in the top 50 among 2003 NBA prospects, but does list him among those in the honorable mention category.
"Even if he would have been drafted very high, it would not have been wise for him to play," Radovan Lorbek said. "I think the best thing is for him to play in Europe."
Lorbek is the fourth from the Spartan basketball program to make an early exit for professional accolades in recent years. 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.
