Feb. 17, 2000 SportsLine wire reports

MINNEAPOLIS -- Suspended Minnesota center Joel Przybilla will not return to the team this season and plans to enter the NBA Draft in June, according to a published report.

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The Saint Paul Pioneer Press reported in Thursday's editions that two unidentified sources said Przybilla's parents have begun meeting with prospective agents for the 7-foot sophomore, a projected lottery pick in the draft.

Coach Dan Monson on Tuesday suspended Przybilla for what he characterized as lack of commitment to academics. By NCAA academic standards, Przybilla would still be eligible to play.

Neither Monson nor Przybilla could be reached for comment Wednesday night, the newspaper said.

A deteriorating relationship between Przybilla and Monson led to the player's decision to quit the team, the sources told the newspaper. The sources said Monson did not know of Przybilla's decision, but that the player and his family planned to meet with him.

Przybilla's departure would be the latest setback for a men's basketball program trying to recover from a recent academic fraud scandal. The program is under NCAA investigation because of fraud allegations, which cost former coach Clem Haskins his job and resulted in a one-year ban on postseason play.

Przybilla considered transferring after Haskins left, but later said he was looking forward to a fresh start under Monson, who was hired from Gonzaga University.

According to the sources who talked to the Pioneer Press, Przybilla and Monson had not talked at length for two months. Signs of tension were evident in November, when Przybilla took a short leave from the team for what were characterized as "personal reasons."

Basketball analysts have projected that Przybilla would be a top-10 pick if he makes himself eligible for the NBA draft. This season, he has averaged 17.2 points and 11.2 rebounds in 11 Big Ten games. He was chosen Big Ten Player of the Week after getting 33 points and 14 rebounds in an upset over Indiana.