Trojans’ Clancy Plans to Go Pro

USC forward Sam Clancy, who earlier said he would return for his senior season, has had a change of heart.

Clancy said he will make himself conditionally available for the NBA’s June 27 draft, but will not hire an agent, which means he has until June 20 to return to school and not lose his eligibility.

The 6-foot-7, 240-pound Clancy was the only Trojan named to the Pacific 10 Conference first team.

“I want to test the waters,” Clancy said Saturday. “I know I said I would stay in school, but about a week and a half ago I started getting an itch to find out where I stand, and it didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

“I definitely won’t hire an agent unless I hear things like being a lottery pick or at least a high first-round selection.”

Clancy, 21, said he had not talked about the decision with any “outside sources.” He did speak to his family about entering the draft, and said “they are 100% behind whatever I want to do.”

He said he has also talked with USC Coach Henry Bibby about the move.

“He wasn’t too happy about it,” Clancy said.

Calls to Bibby were not returned.

Clancy said he has one final exam to take at USC on Tuesday, then he will work out against other draft hopefuls in Southern California.

“That will also give me an idea where I stand,” he said.

Clancy helped USC to a 24-10 record, a fourth-place finish in the Pac-10 and a berth in the NCAA tournament, where the Trojans advanced to the East Regional final before losing to eventual champion Duke.

He was the Trojans’ leading scorer (17.3) and rebounder (7.5).

He also led the team in field-goal attempts (437) and baskets (219) and set school season (81) and career (147) records in blocked shots.

Clancy shared USC’s most-valuable-player award with fellow juniors David Bluthenthal and Brandon Granville.