Talor Battle Declares For The NBA Draft (w/ poll)

Put the noose away (or the keg and strobe lights, depending on how you view things - i.e. Ed DeChellis getting fired next year after going 0-18 in the Big Ten while Talor Battle is playing for the Clippers). Yes, Battle has submitted his name for the upcoming NBA Draft but it would easily be the most shocking development of the decade if he were to forego returning for his senior year at PSU. Read the fine print, courtesy of GOPSUSports.com

All-Big Ten point-guard Talor Battle (Albany, N.Y.) will submit his name for the 2010 NBA Draft. Wednesday was the first day players could do so and underclassmen have until April 25th to declare for the NBA Draft. Battle will gauge his NBA Draft status but will not hire an agent, meaning he could return for his senior season. Under new NCAA rules, Battle will have until May 8th to make a final decision to keep his name in the draft or return for his senior season.

What Battle is doing is a fairly common practice as many underclassmen declare themselves eligible for the draft without hiring an agent as a way to 'test the waters' and see whether they have any shot at being a first round pick. Most of these said players end up withdrawing their names and returning to school as the withdrawal deadline approaches, once they begin to realize they'll likely be a second round pick (if they're even projected to be drafted at all).

Battle will likely come to the same realizations once he's gone through some individual workouts with NBA teams. Not to mention, it's virtually unimaginable that he would ditch an opportunity to be part of the same backcourt with his brother, Taran Buie. Just look at this as a way for Battle to get himself acquainted with NBA teams and scouts in preparation for the 2011 draft, and everything will be just fine...Trust me.

Will Talor Battle return for his senior season?