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Report: Michigan State junior Adreian Payne opts to return, bypass NBA Draft

Although a breakout junior season vaulted him onto the first-round radar, Michigan State big man Adreian Payne will return for his senior season rather than enter the NBA Draft, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.

The 6-foot-10, 240-pound power forward averaged 10.5 points on 55-percent shooting, 7.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 25.6 minutes per game during the 2012-13 season.

He is considered to be on the first-round bubble because of his exceptional athleticism yet inconsistency and lack of polish.

Sunday is the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft.

https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/328576927826853888

Highly touted freshman Gary Harris, a projected lottery pick, also opted to return to Michigan State this month, while junior guard and leading scorer Keith Appling, a second-round prospect, has yet to make a decision.