Calathes to turn pro

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/sec/2009-05-23-florida-nick-calathes-pro_N.htm

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida guard Nick Calathes, an All-SEC pick last season as a sophomore, has decided to turn pro.
Florida Today has learned that Calathes, who averaged a team-leading 17.2 points per game, is negotiating a deal to play for the Greek team Panathinaikos rather than return for his junior season at UF but is still interested in the NBA. His departure leaves Erving Walker, a freshman last season, as the only scholarship point guard on the Florida roster. The Gators recruited several elite players but failed to sign any of them.

The 6-foot-5 Calathes, who is of Greek heritage and tried out unsuccessfully for that country's Olympic team last summer, has told Gators coach Billy Donovan of his decision. The school has not made any official announcement, pending a finalized agreement.

The Casselberry, Fla., native has also been working out for various NBA teams — including Dallas and Sacramento — and hopes to be a first-round draft pick. He is attending this weekend's NBA pre-draft camp in Chicago. While Calathes has not officially signed with an agent, he has let UF know he is leaving — regardless of his draft status.

SI.com currently does not have Calathes projected as a first-round draft pick or as one of the top point guards in the upcoming draft on June 25. Insidehoops.com, however, has him going 29th to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Underclassmen have until June 15 to pull their names out of the draft and return to college if they do not sign with an agent.

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Panathinaikos has won more than two dozen Greek national championships and five Euro League titles. His deal is believed to be worth more than $1 million.

Calathes was the SEC co-freshman of the year in 2008 and last season was a first-team All-SEC selection and the only player in the nation to average better than 15 points, five rebounds and six assists a game. But he leaves UF without playing in the NCAA Tournament after two straight NIT berths.