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Eric Moreland announced Saturday on Twitter that he will enter June's NBA draft.
(Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian)
Eric Moreland will declare for June's NBA draft, the former Oregon State standout announced Saturday on Twitter.
Moreland's announcement, which came as little surprise to those close to the program, arrived three days before the deadline for non-seniors to officially enter the draft. According to his Twitter timeline, the high-flying junior forward has spent the past two-plus weeks training in his native Houston. He tweeted Tuesday that he was "getting really good feedback from NBA teams."
Moreland, who redshirted the 2010-11 campaign after suffering a season-ending left shoulder injury, earned his degree in Human Development and Family Sciences this past term. Under NCAA rules, he could've played next season at a school that offers a graduate program OSU doesn't have.
Moreland tested the NBA draft waters following a breakout sophomore season in which he finished second in the Pac-12 in rebounding (10.6), blocked shots (2.5) and double-doubles (12).
After missing OSU's entire nonconference slate for a violation of unspecified team rules last season, he struggled with consistency. Moreland's numbers dipped significantly, largely a product of playing alongside a healthy Angus Brandt. The Beavers' career blocks leader averaged 8.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and two blocks.
At this point, Moreland is not included on any major NBA mock drafts. DraftExpress.com lists him as the nation's No. 38 overall junior.
Moreland's departure, which comes after the conference's top-scoring trio of Brandt, Devon Collier and Roberto Nelson ran out of eligibility, leaves OSU without 72.5-percent of its per-game offensive production from a team that went 16-16 (8-10 Pac-12) and fell in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational.
The Beavers' top returning scorers are guards Hallice Cooke (8.2 points per game) and Langston Morris-Walker (4). Their leading big man is now forward Daniel Gomis, who averaged 2.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10.8 minutes last season.
Moreland's absence, of course, will be felt most on defense. He was easily OSU's top rim protector, as well as one of its best overall interior defenders, the past three years. The Beavers allowed a conference-worst 75.6 points per game last season.
OSU now has an available scholarship for Sacramento, Calif., power forward Cameron Oliver, who verbally committed to the program earlier this month. Oliver, who can sign a national letter of intent with the Beavers starting Wednesday, should join a 2014 signing class that includes Oldsmar, Fla., center Isaiah Manderson, Malone, Fla., guard Chai Baker and Salt Lake Community College guard Gary Payton II.
-- Connor Letourneau