Source: Meeks to test draft waters

Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks has decided to enter the NBA draft, a source close to the player told Yahoo! Sports on Monday.

Meeks, a junior, will not hire an agent, meaning he could withdraw his name and return for his senior season if he is not satisfied with his draft status.

The 6-foot-4 Meeks was one of the few bright spots for a Kentucky squad that failed to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in 18 years. His scoring average of 23.7 points ranked seventh in the nation, and his 54-point outing against Tennessee was a school record.

A second team All-American, Meeks also had 46 points in a win over Appalachian State and 45 in a victory at Arkansas.

Although he’s currently projected as a second-round pick, Meeks’ stock could rise during pre-draft workouts. He is one of the most well-conditioned guards in the country – and also one of the strongest, with a bench press approaching 300 pounds.

Still, Meeks also knows that he could be part of something special at Kentucky if he returns to school. He’d be one of the focal points of the new, dribble-drive offense employed by incoming coach John Calipari. A lineup featuring Meeks and forwards Patrick Patterson and DeMarcus Cousins would likely make Kentucky a preseason top 10 team.

Patterson, a sophomore, has yet to announce his draft intentions. Cousins is a high school senior who has yet to sign a national letter of intent. He originally committed to Memphis but reneged on the pledge when Calipari was hired to replace Billy Gillispie at Kentucky.