The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS Ä Purdue's Glenn Robinson, who swept national Player of the Year honors after his junior season, has apparently made up his mind about moving on to the NBA.

Robinson, touted by many as the probable No. 1 selection in the June 29 draft, announced yesterday he would hold a news conference Monday to disclose his plans.

The 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward led the nation in scoring with a 30.3 average last season. Robinson previously said he planned to remain in college and would call a news conference if he changed those plans.

"It's a decision that I will make, deciding what's best for Glenn Robinson and what he wants to do with his future," he said earlier.

"I imagine because he's having a press conference (he is) leaving. We talked about it after the Duke game," Purdue coach Gene Keady said Wednesday, referring to the NCAA Tournament Southeast Regional final. "He didn't ask for advice, but I gave it to him. I told him he had to do what in his heart is best for him and his family."

The news conference is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. PST at Gary Roosevelt High School, the school Robinson led to the state high school championship with a 30-1 mark as a senior when he was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball.

Keady said Robinson had not told him his decision, but that he could understand why Robinson might go to the NBA.

"You've got to look at the money and say, 'What if I get hurt?' The only two things I'd like to see is him get a degree and win the national championship," Keady said. "But, considering the money now, I don't think he can risk it. I didn't tell him that."

A unanimous selection on The Associated Press All-America first team, Robinson was the AP's Player of the Year and also collected the Wooden, Eastman and Naismith awards in national voting.

"I'd love to coach him another year because he's a great kid. He was a great kid to coach, I can tell you," Keady said.

Robinson set a school record with 1,030 points this season as the Boilermakers finished 29-5. They won the Big Ten championship and were the top seed in the Southeast Regional, losing to the eventual NCAA runners-up in the regional final. In two seasons, he scored 1,706 points Ä the eighth-highest total in school history.

He is the only Boilermaker to record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 100 steals, 100 assists and 50 blocked shots. And he did that in only two seasons, having sat out his freshman year for academic reasons.

Robinson was the first player to lead the Big Ten in scoring and rebounding since Minnesota's Mychal Thompson in 1978.

Underclassmen have until May 15 to declare their eligibility for the draft and Robinson would join a talented group of underclassmen who have announced their intention to be picked. The group includes Michigan's Juwan Howard and Jalen Rose, Donyell Marshall of Connecticut, Jason Kidd and Lamond Murray of California and Clifford Rozier of Louisville.

However, for the first time underclassmen can reverse their decision and regain their collegiate eligibility. The NCAA has announced it would restore the eligibility of underclassmen if they decided within 30 days of the draft that they did not want to go to the NBA and had not signed an agreement with an agent. Read Next Article