By BRYAN STRICKLAND

Duke fans' hopes that Luol Deng would return to school just went from slim to none.

Deng won't return for his sophomore season, Duke official Jon Jackson said.

Deng declared himself eligible for the June 24 NBA draft in April but didn't hire an agent, keeping open the outside possibility that he could return to school.

Now, Deng is closing the door on Duke.

"He is in the process of hiring an agent," said Jackson, Duke's assistant athletics director for communications/media relations.

When Deng declared for the draft, his father, Aldo, said his son wanted to confirm that he'd be a top-five pick before deciding to turn pro. In the last month, Deng got his answer: Many observers expect Deng to go third in the draft to the Chicago Bulls, after UConn center Emeka Okafor and high school phenom Dwight Howard are selected.

"He's only had one year of college, but he's played at a high level and has a lot of strengths," draft analyst Chris Monter said. "I had him as my No. 2 high school player last year [behind LeBron James]. He had an outstanding season and a great NCAA Tournament, especially playing well against UConn."

Deng scored 16 points in Duke's loss to UConn in the national semifinals, a week after being named MVP of the Atlanta Regional. For the season, the 6-8 forward with guard skills averaged 15.1 points and 6.9 points for the Blue Devils, ranking second on the team in both categories.

Jackson said that Deng had spent a lot of time on the Duke campus since declaring for the NBA draft, often working out with assistant coach Johnny Dawkins, but Deng isn't in Durham now. Once Deng settles on an agent, it's likely that he would begin working out for teams near the top of the draft list.

While Deng has received the assurance he was seeking in terms of his draft status, the search continues for Duke recruit Shaun Livingston. A 6-7 point guard who weighs in at just 175 pounds, Livingston is projected as a top-10 pick but has some teams concerned because of his size and because point guards don't have a track record of success going straight from high school to the NBA.

Livingston still hasn't hired an agent. He has until June 17 to pull out of the draft, but if he doesn't hire an agent he also has the rarely used option of being drafted but still deciding to return to college. The rule was instituted two years ago.

Former Duke point guard Chris Duhon is forecast to be a second-round draft pick.

With the departure of Duhon and Deng, Duke will have six returning scholarship players next season: perimeter players Daniel Ewing and J.J. Redick, post players Shelden Williams and Shavlik Randolph, reserve point guard Sean Dockery and little-used wing player Lee Melchionni.