Durant declares for NBA draft

AUSTIN, Texas -- By the look of his Texas tank top and shorts, Kevin Durant might have fooled someone into thinking he'd changed his mind. Was it a hint he might stay in college?

No chance. The kid is leaving for the NBA.

Durant, an 18-year-old freshman and The Associated Press Player of the Year, said Tuesday he will leave the Longhorns to enter the June draft, bringing a quick end to what was a short but spectacular college career.

"I just thought it was time to go," Durant said at a news conference to announce his decision. "It's been my dream for a while. I felt I was ready."

After an All-American season in which he swept the major player of the year awards, few expected Durant to stay at Texas.

Now the question is whether he'll be the first player drafted. Durant and Ohio State's freshman center Greg Oden -- who has not yet said if he'll leave college -- are considered the likely first two picks.

"I know I'll be one of the higher picks. It doesn't really matter if I go one or two as long as I go," Durant said.

The Big 12 player and freshman of the year, He averaged 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds -- one of three players in the country to average more than 20 points and 10 rebounds.

He shot 47 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 82 percent from the foul line. He led the Longhorns in steals and blocked shots and scored at least 30 points a Big 12-record 11 times.

He led Texas to a third-place finish in the Big 12 and to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Longhorns finished 25-10.

UCLA's Afflalo declares

LOS ANGELES -- UCLA All-American Arron Afflalo is passing up his senior year to enter the NBA draft.

Afflalo, who averaged 16.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists and led the Bruins to consecutive Final Fours, announced his decision Tuesday at a news conference on campus.

The 21-year-old junior from Compton declared for the NBA draft last year, but withdrew his name and returned to school after attending evaluation camps. A player who declares a second time isn't allowed to return to school.

Texas A&M hires Turgeon

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Mark Turgeon was introduced as Texas A&M's basketball coach Tuesday, five days after Billy Gillispie left for Kentucky.

Turgeon comes to Texas A&M from Wichita State, where he led the Shockers to a 17-14 record in the Missouri Valley Conference in 2007.

Turgeon was 128-90 in seven seasons at Wichita State. He led the Shockers to three consecutive 20-plus win seasons from 2004 to 2006, culminating with a trip to the round of 16 in the 2006 NCAA tournament.

Pelphrey introduced

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- South Alabama's John Pelphrey was hired as the basketball coach at Arkansas, a week after Creighton's Dana Altman took the job only to back out the following day.

The Razorbacks introduced Pelphrey at a news conference Monday on the floor at Bud Walton Arena -- an almost identical scene to the previous week when Altman arrived. Arkansas had been without a coach since Stan Heath was fired March 26.

Altman's startling reversal led Arkansas to enlist a search firm to help find a coach. Arkansas eyed Billy Gillispie, who later left Texas A&M to take over at Kentucky. The Razorbacks also received permission to talk to Memphis coach John Calipari.

The Razorbacks went 21-14 last season.

Pelphrey went 80-67 in five seasons at South Alabama.

-- The Associated Press