Shannon Brown is leaving the Spartans.
Brown had been looking for a team that would commit to making him a first-round selection, like other players who enter the NBA draft without hiring an agent.
Brown said Thursday that no team would make that guarantee, but positive feedback after workouts with several teams helped him decide to keep his name in the draft and skip his senior season at MSU.
"There will be no regrets because it's my decision," he said in a conference call from the Chicago area. "It's a possibility I could get picked in the first round or the second."
The shooting guard, who averaged 17.2 points last season, was regarded as a late first- or early second-round pick. But following strong workouts, he is a projected first-round pick in the June 28 draft.
"There are no guarantees, but I feel very confident this is going to work out for him," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.
Brown has worked out for the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls. He has more workouts scheduled with Western Conference teams.
"We're happy for him," assistant coach Mark Montgomery said. "This is his lifelong dream and goal. We're happy to see him shoot for it."
He didn't hire an agent in April when he entered his name in the draft, leaving open the possibility of staying in college. But he did empower agent Mark Bartelstein to act as an adviser, a move that does not violate NCAA rules, according to Izzo. Brown plans to hire Bartelstein soon.
"The dad, agent and coach were on the same page," Izzo said. "This is his dream, like we all have dreams."
Brown, who shared team MVP honors with Paul Davis and Maurice Ager, had until June 18 to pull his name out of the draft. He was listed as a 6-foot-4 player in college, but Izzo acknowledged he's closer to 6-foot-2. Without Brown, MSU might have its worst season in a decade. The Spartans knew they were going to lose seniors Davis and Ager, each possible first-round picks. Ager, Davis and Brown combined to average 54 of the 74 points the team averaged last season.
"Expectations are just going to be lower," Montgomery said. "We're just going to need guys to step up into more of a shooting role. It's something players are usually happy to do."
Point guard Drew Neitzel, a junior next season, is the only player returning with extensive starting experience. Power forward Matt Trannon might not be back next year because the receiver may choose to focus solely on preparing for the NFL draft. Power forward Marquise Gray, who broke his right foot last season, broke his foot again last week, and the setback will keep him out of workouts for almost two months.
"Don't feel sorry for us," Izzo said. "We'll find a way of getting it done."
In 2001, Jason Richardson and Zach Randolph left MSU early during the same offseason that five seniors graduated.
"We lost everybody except me, and we came within one game of winning the Big Ten," Izzo said. "We have more coming back than we had in 2002, but there's no question, guys have to step up."
