UConn's Gordon will leave for NBA

STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- Ben Gordon always expected to be in the NBA next season. The national title he helped Connecticut win made his decision even easier.
"I knew I wanted this to be my last year," Gordon said Wednesday at a news conference to announce he's leaving the Huskies early. "I wanted to win the championship and had all these goals set."
It's hard to imagine a college career ending on a higher note. Gordon averaged a team-leading 18.5 points for the Huskies, who beat Georgia Tech 82-73 last week for the title. He is projected as a top 10 pick in the draft.
The junior guard averaged 21.2 points during six NCAA tournament games. He also scored 81 points to help the Huskies win their record-tying sixth Big East title, breaking Allen Iverson's scoring record in a tournament.
"When Mek got injured, I got to take all this pressure on myself and that's when I started having fun," Gordon said, referring to All-America center Emeka Okafor. "I didn't look back since then."
Okafor is also expected to skip his senior season. He will graduate early in May, and he plans to hold a news conference later this week to announce his decision.
UConn coach Jim Calhoun said Gordon is making the right move.
"He's mentally ready and he's going to be one heck of an asset to the team that's fortunate enough to draft him," Calhoun said.