Paul leaves Wake Forest for NBA Draft

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Chris Paul got advice from his coach, his teammates and his family. He even talked with former Wake Forest stars Tim Duncan and Josh Howard.

In the end, when it came time to make a decision, Paul relied on himself.

The All-America point guard is giving up his final two years of eligibility with the Demon Deacons to enter the NBA Draft, the second in what might be a long line of Atlantic Coast Conference players leaving school early.

North Carolina guard Rashad McCants made his announcement Wednesday, and several others -- including Paul's teammate Eric Williams -- are contemplating the move.

"I just got this feeling maybe a couple of days ago, that this was what I wanted to do," Paul said Thursday. "This is all still so surreal. I have no idea that I would even be in this situation at the end of my sophomore year. I always thought I would play four years, and then, God willing, I would have an opportunity to play in the NBA."

Chris Paul averaged 15.3 points for the Demon Deacons. (AP)

Nearly all his teammates attended a news conference on campus, along with about 30 family members and friends. Coach Skip Prosser was there, too, along with assistants Jeff Battle and Pat Kelsey.

As a sophomore, Paul was the leading vote-getter on the Associated Press' preseason All-America team, and he was selected to the first team after the season. He averaged 15.3 points and 6.6 assists for the Demon Deacons (27-6), who set a school record for victories.

Wake Forest also was ranked No. 1 for two weeks early in the season, the first time that's happened. Paul plans to sign with an agent soon, which would make his departure final.

"It was Chris' decision, and as he said, I think it's an irrevocable decision," Prosser said. "I don't think it's necessarily a financial decision. I think it's a decision based on challenges."

Without Paul, Prosser likely will rely on Justin Gray to fill in at point guard, a position Gray played a bit as a freshman. Williams, a 6-foot-9 center, averaged 16 points and 7.7 rebounds in a breakout season, and he admitted he's also thinking of entering the NBA Draft.

"This is Chris' day, I don't want to do anything to take away from that," Williams said. "But his decision doesn't affect me. It's a decision that I'll make for myself, by myself and with my family. I'm just here to support Chris."

Players must apply for the draft by May 14. If they don't sign with an agent they can withdraw their name by June 21, one week before the draft is held.

National champion North Carolina might lose its top seven scorers from this season, if Raymond Felton, Sean May and Marvin Williams join McCants in bypassing their remaining eligibility. Others from the ACC who have a similar decision to make include Duke's J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams, Maryland's John Gilchrist and Miami's Guillermo Diaz.