Mike Wells of the Pioneer Press reports that University of Minnesota center Rick Rickert will enter the 2003 NBA draft.

Rickert, a sophomore, will keep his options open to return to school by not signing with an agent. He has until June 19th to rescind his commitment to the draft.

"Ever since I was a kid I've had this dream to play in the NBA," Rickert said. "Now I have a chance to pursue this dream and fulfill it. It's a great opportunity, and I want this challenge."

Rickert says he thinks he will go anywhere from 10th to 17th in the draft.

"It's all going to depend on which underclassmen and what foreign players enter the draft," said Chris Monter, who publishes Monter Draft Report. "It would take a lot for him to move into the lottery. He has to have good individual workouts and hope he does enough to move up. Right now, he's a first-rounder ? but a mid-to-low first-round pick."

Some feel he is not ready to go pro at all.

"This is a bad move by Rick," ESPN college basketball analysts Jay Bilas said. "To be an impact player in the NBA, you should be a dominant player at the college level. Rick hasn't been that. He's been in the Big Ten for two years and all he has to show for it is two NIT appearances.

"If you're 6-10 and the centerpiece of your team, you should have had more of an impact. I'm not trying to knock him because he's a good prospect, but he's not ready for the NBA yet."

Rickert acknowledges he needs to improve.

"I know I have to get stronger, I know I have to get quicker, those are obvious things," he said. "I look at that as another challenge. Having to make this decision, you think about everything. What if I stayed a few more years? What if I went now, what would be better? You don't know.

"It all comes down to how hard you work at something."