USC’s Jefferson seems headed to NBA draft

Although USC freshman Davon Jefferson never publicly announced whether he had made himself eligible for the NBA draft, school spokesman Dave Tuttle said today that a representative from the league office recently called asking for biographical information, meaning Jefferson declared prior to the Sunday evening deadline.

The NBA will not release its list of early entry candidates until later this week, said league spokesman Tim Frank.

Jefferson, a 6-foot-8 forward, was set to sign with agent Arn Tellem, according to a foxsports.com report, though Tellem did not return calls seeking comment. If Jefferson signs with an agent he would forfeit his college eligibility should he later wish to withdraw his name from draft consideration.

Jefferson was the Trojans’ second-leading scorer, averaging 12.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He is projected as an early second-round pick by draftexpress.com.

“I think it’s a terrible mistake, and whoever convinced him to leave should be ostracized,” said Rick Isaacs, Jefferson’s former AAU coach. “If he stayed, he’d have a chance to be a top-10 pick and maybe as high as five or six [next year].

“I hope he goes in the first round because if he doesn’t, it’s an utter mistake. At the same time, I’m going to support the kid no matter what.”

Jefferson was selected to the All-Pacific 10 Conference freshman team after a season in which he started 25 games and scored in double figures 19 times. He ranked seventh on the school’s all-time freshman list in points (351), third in field-goal percentage (57.5) and fourth in rebounds (182).

Jefferson’s breakthrough performance came in a 25-point, nine-rebound effort during USC’s 72-63 victory over UCLA on Jan. 19. He scored 15 points and had six rebounds during the Trojans’ 80-67 loss to Kansas State in the first round of the NCAA tournament on March 20.

Jefferson becomes the second USC player to declare for the draft, joining freshman guard O.J. Mayo. The father of sophomore forward Taj Gibson said last weekend that his son would return for his junior season.

ben.bolch@latimes.com