PITTSBURGH — Pitt's Aaron Gray, the 7-foot junior center chosen All-Big East in his first season as a starter, plans to enter the NBA draft but has not signed with an agent.

By not hiring an agent, Gray retains the option to withdraw from the June 28 draft and return for his senior season. Pitt point guard Carl Krauser also planned to turn pro last season, but went back to school after detecting little NBA interest.

"The draft process will provide me a great learning experience and will help me become a better player," Gray said in a statement issued by the school. "Academically, I am well on my way to graduating and earning a degree and that is a priority for me."

Gray said he talked with coach Jamie Dixon before making up his mind.

"Aaron carefully considered this decision and sought the right information before making it," Dixon said. "We've been counseling him each step of the way and will continue to do so over the next two months. This is a logical step for Aaron to take and we will support him wholeheartedly."

After backing up former starter Chris Taft the previous two seasons, Gray became the fourth Pitt player to be chosen as the Big East's most improved player and the sixth to make the all-conference first team. He averaged 13.9 points and led the conference in rebounding with a 10.5 average as Pitt went 25-8 and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Gray, from Emmaus, also became the first Pitt player since Jerome Lane in 1987-88 to average double figures in scoring and rebounding.