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Michigan’s Livers to test NBA draft, keep eligibility

Michigan forward Isaiah Livers dribbles the ball during the first half against Maryland in early March, 2020.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan forward Isaiah Livers is applying for early entry into the NBA draft.

The school said Livers is not hiring an agent and would work with the Michigan coaching staff during the evaluation and pre-draft processes. Even if a player does use an agent during the evaluation process, he can return to school without losing eligibility if he ends the relationship with the agent.

Livers said he’d be fine coming back to Michigan, but he figured all along he’d test the waters after this season.

“If they like what they see and teams are literally saying that they’re going to draft me, then I’m pretty sure that I’m going to stay in the draft,” Livers said on a conference call. “It’s basically whatever the evaluation and feedback — however that comes — is basically how I’ll make my decision.”

Livers has started 46 games in three seasons at Michigan. He led the Wolverines in scoring this season at 12.9 points per game, although he was limited to 21 games because of injury problems.

“We know Isaiah has had the desire to reach the next level of playing professional basketball, and going through the NBA draft process will give him the information he is looking for to make the proper decision,” coach Juwan Howard said in a statement. “Even with everything going on with COVID-19, myself and our staff will continue to work closely with Isaiah and his family to gain as much information as possible in the weeks ahead before he reaches his final decision.”

Minnesota’s Marcus Carr also will declare his early entry for the NBA draft, the sophomore point guard said on Monday night in a post on his Instagram account.

Carr said he intends to keep his name in the draft, but he said he will not sign with an agent in order to maintain his college eligibility. Carr’s teammate, sophomore center, Daniel Oturu, announced last week he was entering the draft.

“I am looking forward to receiving valuable information, going through whatever process this unique draft year does include, and ultimately making the best decision for myself and my family,” Carr said.

Carr has played just one season for the Gophers, after having to sit out in 2018-19 following his transfer from Pittsburgh. Oturu and Carr combined to account for half of the team’s scoring in 2019-20. Carr averaged 15.4 points, 6.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 36.8 minutes for the Gophers.

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