SOUTH BEND | Clad in a dark blue polo shirt, jeans and white Nike shoes, Luke Harangody stood sheepishly outside a half-packed interview inside the Joyce Center on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

His right hand was in his pocket, his left hand held his cell phone to his ear, and for that moment he was just another college student. However, a few moments later the star basketball player entered the room and made a life-altering declaration.

The junior confirmed Thursday that he will make himself eligible for this June's NBA draft with the caveat that he will not hire an agent.

But that doesn't mean he's being tentative.

He wasn't tentative when he posted 1,527 career points and 850 rebounds at Andrean. Nor was he when he led the Big East in scoring both his sophomore and junior seasons at Notre Dame, earning Second Team All-America status both years and conference player of the year accolades as a sophomore. And he certainly isn't just dipping his toe in the professional waters.

"I see (entering the draft) as a challenge," Harangody said. "When I came into college, that was a challenge -- to get playing time, to get a starting position. This is going to be exactly the same way. I feel like I have to prove myself again, and that's fine with me -- I like that type of challenge."

The 6-foot-8, 255-pound forward has until June 15 to decide against turning pro, but he believes he is worthy of an NBA roster spot, even if he's not projected as a lottery pick just yet.

Notre Dame coach Mike Brey told Harangody he owed it to himself to enter the draft. Brey said he's seen Harangody projected as a late first-rounder or early second-rounder.

"He's got nothing to lose," Brey said. "It's not like he's protecting anything. He is absolutely going to go after it and get a feel for it."

Throughout the next two months Harangody will attend pre-draft camps and audition individually for select NBA franchises, trying to improve his stock.

"This is new territory for me," said Harangody, who has lived in a dorm the last three years. "I'm in a great situation here -- whatever happens happens."

If he is selected in the two-round draft on June 25 he would become the first draftee from Northwest Indiana since Bryce Drew of Valparaiso (the high school and university) was picked 16th in the 1998 draft. Glenn Robinson, a 1991 Roosevelt grad, was the No. 1 overall selection in the 1994 draft.

West Side alum Chris Hunter became the latest Region player to make the NBA when he signed with the Knicks on Tuesday.

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Key Dates
April 26 -- NBA early entry eligibility deadline
May 19 -- NBA draft lottery
June 15 -- NBA draft early entry withdrawal deadline
June 25 -- NBA draft
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Luke Harangody's resume
6-foot-8, 255 pounds, Forward
University of Notre Dame
2008-09
* Averages: 23.3 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.9 bpg, 0.9 spg
* Wooden All-American, AP Second Team All-American
* Team went 21-15, made NIT semifinals?
2007-08
* Averages: 20.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.9 bpg, 0.8 spg
* Big East Player of the Year, Wooden All-American, AP Second Team All-American
* Team went 25-8, made NCAA tournament second round
2006-07
* Averages: 11.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.5 bpg, 0.9 spg
* Big East All-Rookie Team, team's most outstanding freshman
* Team went 24-8, made NCAA tournament first round
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Andrean High School
* Averages: 18.8 ppg, 10.5 rpg for career
* Indiana All-Star, Sectional Champion (2005, 2006) Times Player of the Year (2005)
* Team went 67-29 in four seasons