Randolph announcement today

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Apr 8, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:47 a.m.

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Because it seems likely that Anthony Randolph’s college basketball career is over after one year.

Randolph and LSU interim coach Butch Pierre have scheduled a news conference for 10 a.m. today “to announce Randolph’s future plans,” according to a LSU media relations news release.

All indications point to the 6-foot-10, 205-pound forward declaring for the 2008 NBA draft. Three Web sites dedicated to the NBA draft had stories reporting that Randolph was shopping for agents last week.

In an otherwise dismal 2007-08 season for LSU, Randolph was a bright spot as a freshman.

The Arkansas native and Dallas Wilson graduate started all 31 games and averaged 15.6 points and 8.5 rebounds a game, while blocking 70 shots. He led Southeastern Conference freshmen in rebounding and blocks.

As LSU’s primary scoring threat inside, Randolph recorded nine double-doubles, anchored by a career-best 29 points against Alabama and 19 rebounds vs. Vanderbilt.

Internet projections and mock drafts peg Randolph as a first-round pick, which would mean a guaranteed three-year contract worth millions of dollars. Randolph has been slated as high as the No. 5 player available in this year’s by ESPN and none of the major draft sites projects him going lower than the 12th slot.

If he leaves as expected, Randolph would become the fourth LSU forward to bolt for the NBA early in the last four years, the first after his true freshman season.

Glen Davis left following his junior season last year, Tyrus Thomas departed after his redshirt campaign in 2006 and Brandon Bass entered the draft following his sophomore season in 2005.

Of those three, only Thomas was selected in the first round — by Portland with the fourth pick. He was subsequently traded to Chicago.

Davis was taken by Seattle in the second round last year and dealt to the Boston Celtics.

Bass was a second-round pick by the New Orleans Hornets in 2005. He played for the team for two years before being released last summer and landed with the Dallas Mavericks this season.