Cat Barber to remain in NBA draft, skip final season at NC State

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina State juniorAnthony "Cat" Barberis skipping his final season to pursue an NBA career.

Barber, a 6-foot-2 guard, had previously indicated he would at least go through the draft evaluation process, which could allow him to potentially return to school. But team spokesman Josh Rattray said Tuesday evening that Barber has notified coach Mark Gottfried that he would remain in the draft.

"I enjoyed my time at NC State and want to thank my coaches for giving me the opportunity,'' Barber said in a statement released by the school Tuesday night. "Most importantly I want to thank my teammates and the fans. I want everyone to know I gave it 100 percent every night and will forever be a part of (Wolfpack Nation)."

Barber was the Atlantic Coast Conference's leading scorer and a first-team all-ACC pick after averaging 23.5 points, though the Wolfpack struggled to a 16-17 record after four straight NCAA tournament trips.

Barber's decision to remain in the draft was first reported by Pack Pride.

New rules allow college players to work out with an NBA team or at the scouting combine and still return to school.

In an interview with The Associated Press last week, Gottfried said he expected Barber to go through that process, saying, "That's what he's communicated to me, that's been my recommendation to him."

"I personally believe he's a bona-fide NBA player," Gottfried said then. "And hopefully some of the guys at that level think the same thing, so we'll wait to see what happens."

Draft sites DraftExpress.com and NBADraft.net list Barber as a second-round selection.

In a February interview with the AP, Barber said his 1-year-old daughter could be a factor in any decision.

"I've got to take care of my daughter before anything," Barber, a native of Newport News, Virginia,said then. "So we'll see how it goes at the end of the year and how it plays out."

NC State is expected to return its next six scorers and will add Charlotte transfer Torin Dorn Jr., who wasthe Conference USA freshman of the year in 2015, and five-star point guard recruit Dennis Smith Jr., who enrolled in January while rehabbing a knee injury.