Marcus Lee has every intention of leaving the Kentucky Wildcats to enter the NBA draft.
"I haven't hired an agent," the 6-foot-9 junior forward told ESPN. "Because I want to keep my eligibility just in case I decide to come back, but my plan is to go to the NBA. That's the only goal."
Kentucky coach John Calipari announced that all draft-eligible players on his roster -- including walk-on players -- would declare for the NBA draft and take advantage of the new rule that allows underclassmen to declare without hiring an agent, go through the process and still withdraw 10 days after the NBA combine in mid-May.
Jamal Murray, Tyler Ulis and Skal Labissiere have each announced they will sign with an agent, but Lee was concerned Calipari's announcement didn't lend as much credibility to his decision.
"I want people to know I am serious about this," Lee added. "I've talked to Coach Cal about this, and he definitely understands that I'm going to the NBA this year."
Lee averaged 6.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game this past season in his first season of getting meaningful minutes since arriving at Kentucky in 2013.
"I did what my team needed me to do," Lee said of his role this past season. "I had to do the little things like rebound and block shots."
Lee came out of high school in California as a highly touted player, but told ESPN that he hasn't gotten an opportunity to show what he can do -- especially on the offensive end of the floor.
"I've gotten a lot of feedback, and people are saying I was hesitant and didn't have confidence in my offensive game," Lee said. "But I do have an offensive skill set that was prominent in high school and in AAU. I am just working on getting that back again now and looking forward to showing this to NBA teams."
"In my mind, I can be a dominant player on that end of the court. I just want a chance to show that."
Several NBA executives told ESPN that Lee is currently projected as second-round pick, and Lee told ESPN it's not necessarily about where he is projected to be taken that will determine whether he remains in the draft.
"It obviously depends on the feedback I get, but it doesn't necessarily depend on the actual number they project for me," Lee said. "I know I need to develop in some areas. For me, it is about finding the team that is the right fit and wants me to develop in their system."