Indiana University's top-rated incoming basketball recruiting class has carried an asterisk because of speculation Josh Smith might enter June's NBA draft.

And while Smith still hasn't said he is NBA-bound, his actions Monday night spoke loudly.

By participating in the dunk contest at the McDonald's All-American game in Oklahoma City Smith officially lost his freshman year of college eligibility.

According to NCAA rules, "a student-athlete shall be denied the first year of intercollegiate athletics competition, if following completion of high school eligibility, and prior to the student-athlete's high school graduation, he participates in more than two all-star basketball contests."

Participation in this case, according to the NCAA, includes the slam-dunk contest. Smith also competed in all-star events in Chicago and Knoxville, Tenn.

"This was his decision to make," IU coach Mike Davis said. "It's disappointing, but we had guys that we had lined up just in case. We had a backup plan. We're not in the situation where we were a couple of years ago where we were kind of out there stuck.

"But this is his decision and I support the boy."