Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins says that coach John Calipari advised him to leave school and enter the NBA Draft.

Cousins says that his year with the Wildcats was one of the most "precious" years of his life. He is one of five Kentucky underclassman heading to the NBA.

He averaged 15.1 points and 9.8 rebounds this season.

"When I first got here, I thought I'd be here awhile," Cousins said. "But as the season progressed, I progressed, and now I'm here."

Cousins gave all the credit for his growth to Calipari.

"He just teaches fast and if you don't get it, you get left behind, which pretty much means you're going to be around for awhile and that's how it is in the league," he said. "They teach fast and if you don't get it, you'll quickly be left behind and quickly be out of the league."

"He told me it's my time to go," Cousins added, then nodded his head when a reporter asked if Calipari "pushed" him out.