CHARLOTTE -- In the final, frenzied seconds of Georgia's season, Trey Thompkins made a 3-point shot and Travis Leslie missed one.
The question, in the aftermath of Georgia's 68-65 loss to Washington late Friday night in the NCAA tournament, is whether those were the last shots Thompkins and Leslie will take for the Bulldogs.
Both are juniors who might forgo their final season of college eligibility to enter the NBA draft. Neither was ready to declare his intention upon the season's sudden end.
Said Thompkins: "I'll just take time off and then talk it over with my coaches and my family and see what's the best option."
Said Leslie: "It's a big decision for me and my family. ... It can go either way."
Two key dates loom. The NBA's deadline for underclassmen to enter the draft is April 24. Then the NCAA's deadline to withdraw from the draft and retain college eligibility is May 8.
The withdrawal option is open only to players who have never used it before. Since neither Thompkins nor Leslie applied for the draft in the past, they could enter, work out for NBA teams during the two-week window, then decide whether to stay in the pool or return to college. With just one season of eligibility left, it's an option they don't have to worry about preserving for the future, as they did last year.
"A lot of things kind of play into that," Georgia coach Mark Fox said. "With the deadline and the fact you can't work out [for NBA teams] during classes, I think last year, for instance, they might have had two possible days to even work out. You shouldn't abuse the process; you shouldn't enter just because you're a junior in college.
"I don't think they'll make any decision until they have the right information. And this year obviously there are some concerns with the [possible NBA] lockout. ... They have handled this very maturely [in the past], and I would be very surprised if they don't handle it maturely again."
The consensus among analysts appears to be that Thompkins is likely to enter the draft and that Leslie faces a closer call. The website nbadraft.net projects Thompkins as a first-round pick this year, although not a lottery pick, and Leslie as an early second-round pick next year. ESPN's Chad Ford ranks Thompkins and Leslie as the 32nd and 36th best prospects for this year's draft, respectively, projecting both as late first-round or early second-round picks.
"Going to the NBA would be a life-changing thing," Thompkins said. "It's been my dream since I was a little kid, but right now I'm not really thinking about it. ... We'll see."
Leslie made it clear he'll seriously consider the draft, but also the reasons to return.
"We had a great year this year. I know if I stay we'll have an even better year next year," he said. He noted that he needs more work on his jump shot to prepare for a career as an NBA shooting guard. "I've got a lot of work to do," he said.
Thompkins and Leslie were in the spotlight as Georgia's season ended with the loss to Washington. Thompkins scored the last three of his game-high 26 points with a jumper that pulled the Bulldogs, who had trailed by eight with 36 seconds to play, within two at 67-65. After Washington made one of two free throws to go up 68-65 with 3.7 seconds remaining, the game ended with Leslie missing a 3-point heave.
"Tried to throw up a desperate shot," Leslie said. "It just didn't fall."
That left the Bulldogs to deal with a jarring conclusion to a 21-12 season.
"It's kind of like a car crash," Fox said of the season's end. "It's the sudden stop that is so painful and damaging."
While Washington moved on to face North Carolina in a round-of-32 game, Fox said he would spend the weekend recruiting. He called the tournament appearance "an important step" that the program must build on.
"Being in the tournament is a blessing," Thompkins said. "It's an experience that I feel like every ball player should have while they're in college."
