UNC forwards Kennedy Meeks and Justin Jackson will enter NBA draft

North Carolina announced Friday that forwards Kennedy Meeks and Justin Jackson will enter the NBA draft, but they will not sign with agents to leave open the option of returning to school.

Meeks, a 6-foot-10 rising senior, missed seven games last season with a knee injury. He averaged 9.2 points and 5.9 rebounds, but never quite regained any consistency when he returned to action.

ESPN.com had previously reported Jackson's intent to enter the draft. The 6-foot-8 rising junior averaged 12.2 points and 3.9 rebounds this past season.

"Justin and Kennedy have our complete support in taking this step," coach Roy Williams said in a release. "Any player who is thinking about playing in the NBA next season should gather as much information as they can about their possible draft position. We will continue to support and assist them over the next month to obtain the information that will help them decide whether they should remain in the draft or return to UNC next season."

Both Meeks and Jackson were mainstays in the Tar Heels' starting lineup. Should they both decide to remain in the draft, that would leave guard Joel Berry as the Heels' lone returning starter next season.

Underclassmen have until May 25 to withdraw their names from the draft in order to maintain their NCAA eligibility.