Another Kentucky freshman picks NBA

Kentucky forward Bam Adebayo says he’ll enter the NBA draft, the third Wildcats freshman this week to announce his departure.

He says he won’t hire an agent, leaving the possibility of returning to the Wildcats. The 6-foot-10 Adebayo has until May 24 to decide.

He averaged 13 points, 8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks to help Kentucky reach the NCAA Tournament South Regional final before losing 75-73 to eventual national champion North Carolina.

His draft decision follows those by freshman teammates De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk, both of whom will hire an agent.

■ Central Florida center Tacko Fall is taking a look at the NBA. The 7-6 Fall has asked the NBA’s undergraduate advisory committee to provide information on his draft status. If he decides he wants to return to school, he must decide by May 24.

■ St. Bonaventure junior point guard Jaylen Adams declared himself eligible for the NBA draft while not ruling out the possibility of returning for his senior season. He averaged 20.6 points a game this season. ... Arizona freshman guard Kobi Simmons is declaring for the NBA draft and will not return to school.

■ Creighton center Justin Patton is declaring for the NBA draft and plans to sign with an agent, forfeiting three seasons of eligibility.

■ K.J. Lawson and Dedric Lawson are leaving Memphis’ program, which strips the Tigers of two of their top three scorers and their top two rebounders.

■ Akron hired former Illinois coach John Groce to succeed Keith Dambrot, who surprisingly left his alma mater last week to coach at Duquesne. Groce is familiar with the Mid-American Conference after spending four seasons at Ohio, where he was 85-56 and twice went to the NCAA Tournament.