Butler's Shelvin Mack enters NBA draft

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A Butler University basketball standout has declared his intentions to appear in the NBA draft this year.

Butler junior Shelvin Mack has filed the necessary paperwork to enter the draft, Butler officials said. But he hasn’t hired an agent, which means he has until May 8 to change his mind and return to Butler for his senior season.

"I'm exploring my options and gathering information to see what opportunities might exist for me," Mack said in a news release issued by Butler. "I've always had a dream to play in the NBA, and I want to make an informed decision on that possibility."

Mack, a guard for the Bulldogs, was part of the team’s two consecutive runs to the NCAA men’s national championship. He set a Butler record with 122 points in this year's NCAA tournament.

Mack was also named  Most Outstanding Player at the Southeast Regional, and he was picked to the All-Tournament Team at the Final Four for a second consecutive year.

The Kentucky native was the team's No. 2 scorer and stepped up his game in the NCAA tournament, but he is currently projected as a second round pick, which means no guaranteed NBA contract.

Butler Coach Brad Stevens said the team is supporting Mack's exploratory move.

"It's really exciting any time you have a player and person of Shelvin Mack's caliber who is in a position where we can do the research on what his NBA opportunities might be," Stevens said. "We look forward to helping him through every step of this process and gathering information to help him with his decision."