Michigan State guard Gary Harris declares for NBA Draft

Michigan State's Gary Harris led the team in scoring this season, averaging 17 points a game. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Michigan State sophomore guard Gary Harris will forego his final two seasons of eligibility and declare for the NBA Draft, the school announced Monday.

Harris averaged 16.7 points, four rebounds and 2.7 assists this past season for the Spartans, earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors. During his career, Harris started 67 games and averaged 14.9 points per contest.

The Spartans finished 29-9 this past season, won the Big Ten tournament title and lost to eventual national champions Connecticut in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

"The last two years have been the best of my life, but it's time to follow my dream and declare for the NBA Draft," Harris said.

"My two seasons at Michigan State have been an amazing experience. I have a lifetime of memories, including some incredible games in some incredible places, NCAA Tournaments, and cutting down the nets after a Big Ten Tournament Championship. But most important are the friendships I've developed with my teammates."

SI.com's Chris Mannix has Harris No. 10 on his Big Board, and describes him as a multidimensional offensive player: "Harris is a terrific two-way player. He's strong off the dribble, can hit the mid-range shot and finishes at the rim. Defensively, Harris makes up for a (slight) lack of size with aggression and speed. The primary concern continues to be his three-point shot."

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From Michigan State's press release:

"This is a happy day not only for Gary and his family, but also for Tom Izzo and the Spartan basketball program," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said.  "Seeing a player realize his dream is one of the proudest moments for a coach. I always say you get what you deserve, and no one has worked harder over the last two years to prepare for this moment than Gary Harris. He's done everything asked of him and more on the court, in the classroom and in the community."