Pitt forward DeJuan Blair turning pro

PITTSBURGH, April 8 (UPI) -- Star Pittsburgh power forward DeJuan Blair announced on Wednesday that he will enter the NBA draft this summer.

The 6-foot-7 inch, 265-pounder said he originally had planned to test the draft waters.

In 35 games, the 6-foot-7 inch, 265-pound Blair, a Pittsburgh native, had per-game averages of 15.7 points and 12.3 rebounds when the top-seeded Panthers went 31-5, losing the East Regional final 78-76 to fellow Big East member Villanova.

In his announcement Wednesday, the Pittsburgh native confirmed a report that he has hired an agent, meaning he cannot return next winter for his junior season.

"There's no turning back," he said at a news conference. "It was more something that I wanted to do more than money. It was a real big decision but I had to do what was right for me. Nobody made the decision but me."

Blair also was named Big East Co-Player of the Year this season.