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UA sophomore forward Chase Budinger has decided to apply for the NBA draft, according to his trainer, Trent Suzuki.

However, Budinger is planning to keep his options open to return to Arizona by not hiring an agent. Budinger’s decision came two days after teammate Jerryd Bayless decided to irrevocably enter his name in the draft.

Bayless is projected as a Top 10 pick, while Budinger is forecasted to go somewhere between 10 and 20. “I think if he gets it confirmed that he can get something like” a Top 20 pick, he would stay in the draft, Suzuki said.

“I don’t really know what his thought process is. Obviously, if he’s a lottery pick, he’ll come out for sure."

Budinger’s stock may fluctuate later this spring depending on how he does in private workouts. His elite athleticism, however, is expected to generate attention in predraft testing.

Budinger was the Wildcats’ second leading scorer this season with an average of 17.1 points a game. He made 38 percent of his three-pointers and 71.2 percent of his free throws, while averaging 35.3 minutes a game.

If Budinger stays in the draft, the Wildcats would lose 48 percent of their 2007-08 scoring. Budinger has until June 16 to decide whether to return to school. The NBA draft will be held on June 26.

All first-round picks (1 to 30) receive guaranteed contracts for two years, with the team holding options for years three and four and a right of first refusal for the fifth year. Second-round picks are not required to be offered guaranteed contracts, so many players who are unsure if they will be first-rounders opt to return to school.