Arizona sophomore Gilbert Arenas announced that he...

Arizona sophomore Gilbert Arenas announced that he will make himself available for the NBA draft, becoming the fourth player from the Wildcats’ NCAA tournament runner-up team to leave school early.

Arenas, a former standout at North Hollywood Grant High, follows the lead of point guard Jason Gardner and forwards Michael Wright and Richard Jefferson.

“When I came here two years ago without much recognition, I always thought I’d play here for four years,” Arenas said. “But after two great years in Tucson, I feel like I’m ready to take the next step and play in the NBA.”

Arenas, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard, led the Wildcats with an average of 16.2 points a game. He made 47.9% of his shots in 36 games last season.

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Bobby Simmons, DePaul’s leading scorer and rebounder, is making himself eligible for the NBA draft.

Simmons, a 6-foot-7 junior swingman, says he won’t sign with an agent and will stay enrolled at DePaul so he will be eligible to return to school.

If Simmons does turn pro, he’ll be the third player DePaul loses to the NBA this year. Sophomore center Steven Hunter announced earlier this month that he would skip his last two years at DePaul. Hunter has already hired an agent, making him ineligible to stay in school.

Eddy Curry, one of the country’s top prep prospects who had committed to DePaul last fall, said Monday he was entering the draft.

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Alex Graham, a 7-foot-1 center from Redlands High considered among the top big men on the West Coast, signed a letter of intent to play for Long Beach State.

Graham, a preseason high school All-American, averaged 17 points, 12 rebounds and 4.5 blocks for Redlands last season. He committed to Long Beach in December, turning down Gonzaga and Princeton.

“He is 7-foot-1, 225 pounds and still growing,” Long Beach Coach Wayne Morgan said. “His body is well-proportioned, he can really run the floor and he has a passion for the game. His potential is unlimited.”

Graham is the tallest signee in the program’s history.