Afraid David Stern might impose an age limit and ban him from entering, 17-year-old Serbian 7-footer Nemanja Aleksandrov has declared for the 2005 NBA Draft.

In his letter, sent through SFX's David Bauman and which reached the NBA Friday, Aleksandrov writes that he's making the move because he believes he'll be a top pick and he's being pressured into signing a long-term contract in Serbia.

NBA rules state that underclassmen must declare before a specified deadline to be eligible for the draft and that international underclassmen must turn 18 before the date of the upcoming draft. Bauman is hoping that because Aleksandrov, who turns 18 next April 10, sent his letter to the NBA now, it will remain in force even if the league changes the rule later this year.