per Yahoo Sports...

Alabama's 6-foot-8 swingman, Rod Grizzard, who had been contemplating forgoing his senior year at Alabama to enter the NBA Draft, has withdrawn from The University of Alabama, a source in the athletic department told The Crimson White.

The source also said Grizzard will make his decision official Monday.

Grizzard's withdrawal would almost ***ure that he would not pull his name out of the draft before the June 19 deadline because he would likely not qualify academically.

Neither Grizzard nor Alabama head coach Mark Gottfried could be reached for comment over the weekend, and as of Friday the University's media relations department had not scheduled a press conference for this week.

After the Tide's loss to Kent State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament a month ago, Grizzard strongly suggested that he would be wearing crimson during his senior year at Alabama.

When asked if he planned to return for his senior year after the Tide's final game, he nodded and said he had "unfinished business."

Even though Tide big man Erwin Dudley earned SEC Player of the Year honors this season, Grizzard is still Bama's top professional prospect because of his ability to shoot and handle the ball for a player of his height.

Most experts predict that Grizzard would be a late first-round or early second-round pick if he declared. First round selections receive guaranteed three-year contracts while second-round picks would get no such guarantee.

Several media outlets reported last week that Grizzard had been strongly considering leaving the University to enter the NBA Draft.

The deadline for undercl***men to declare for the NBA Draft is May 12. In addition, players who do declare but do not sign with an agent have until one week prior to the June 26 draft to withdraw their name.

agreed, roothog.

Grizzard could be special, but even more special if he stays another year.

I think this puts Bama in the top 10, but not top 5 anymore.