The NBA's analysis for college players who declare themselves eligible for the draft before their collegiate eligibility has expired has projected that University of Minnesota 6-foot-10 sophomore Rick Rickert will be picked between No. 13 and No. 17 in June.

There is virtually no chance Rickert will return to the Gophers, and plans are for him to sign soon with California agent Bill Duffy, thus voiding his collegiate eligibility. Rickert, up six pounds to 223, has been working out daily at the high-intensity IMG strength and conditioning facility in Bradenton, Fla.