(UPDATING) 

*UCLA G Baron Davis to enter NBA draft*
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LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- UCLA sophomore point guard Baron Davis,
who came back from a torn ACL to lead the team in scoring,
assists and steals this past season, is headed to the NBA. 

Davis officially announced he would forgo his final two years of
college eligibility to enter the NBA draft at an afternoon news
conference. 

"It's been a lifelong dream as long as I can remember," Davis
said.  "All I dreamed about was playing against the best people
in the world.  I feel it's time to face the highest challenge." 

Many NBA draft experts have projected Davis as a high lottery
pick.  UCLA coach Steve Lavin confirmed today that Davis
received glowing reports from NBA executives and scouts. 

"Last week I talked to Elgin Baylor and Jerry West just to get a
feeling and the scouts all said great things about Baron," Lavin
said.  "I'm excited for Baron because he's going to another
level and that's what he dreamed about." 

The 6-2 Davis missed the first four games of the 1998-99 season
while recovering from the torn ACL, but returned and started 26
of UCLA's final 27 games.  He averaged 15.9 points, 5.1 assists
and 2.5 steals to earn All Pac-10 honors and led the Bruins to a
22-9 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance. 

Now instead of returning to a team which featured a promising
freshman class, Davis decided to play at the highest level. 

"I want to get thrown to the fire," Davis said.  "Playing
against guys like Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd
night in and night out will only make me a better player." 

A product of Crossroads High School in Santa Monica, Davis had
an outstanding freshman season.  He averaged 11.7 points, 5.0
rebounds and 2.4 steals while shooting 53 percent from the
field. 

But in the second round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament against
Michigan, Davis landed awkwardly after a dunk and tore the ACL.
He had surgery and was not cleared to play until November.