HOUSTON -- Texas sophomore point guard T.J. Ford reportedly plans to leave the Longhorns and enter the NBA draft.

The All-America player was expected to announce this week, most likely on Thursday, that he will become available for the draft on June 26, a source close to the team told the Houston Chronicle in Wednesday's editions.

	T.J. Ford would likely be the top point guard selected in the June 26 draft.

"When you get to where you can't improve your position, you almost have to go,'' said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "His stock can't get any higher than it is now. You have to support that.''

Sources close to the Longhorns program told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Houston television station KRIV that Ford would hold a news conference to make it official. KRIV reported the news conference would be Thursday in Austin.

"He has to go,'' the Star-Telegram quoted its source as saying. "He's going to be a top-10 pick. After the season he's had, he could only hurt (his standing) by staying another year.''

Ford, a former Houston Willowridge High standout, was unavailable for comment. His father, Leo, would not speculate on his son's decision.

"I have no comment whatsoever on that,'' Leo Ford said Tuesday night.

The elder Ford did not return a telephone call from The Associated Press on Wednesday.

His son said during the season that he was "110 percent sure'' he would return for his junior season, but after the season he began hinting that he might leave for the NBA.

"I cannot confirm that for you,'' Longhorns basketball spokesman Scott McConnell told the AP. "He has not informed us of any decision.''

McConnell said no news conference has yet been scheduled. He said the school had planned to hold a news conference for whatever decision Ford made.

A National Basketball Association scout told the Chronicle Tuesday night that Ford would likely be taken somewhere between the fifth and ninth picks should he choose to make himself eligible for the draft.

"The draft lottery could change things somewhat, but there are at least three teams that -- if they don't have one of the top three picks -- will snap him up if he is available,'' the scout said. "He's rated that highly right now.''

Ford led Texas to its first Final Four appearance in 56 years. He won the John R. Wooden Award and the Naismith Award, both college basketball player of the year honors.

The 5-foot-10, 160-pound playmaker could be the second early draft entrant for Texas since Rick Barnes took over as coach for the 1998-99 season. Center Chris Mihm left after his junior season and was taken by the Chicago Bulls with the seventh pick of the first round. He was sent to the Cavaliers in a draft day trade and remains in Cleveland as a backup.

Ford led Texas in five statistical categories this season -- including scoring average (15.0 points), assists (7.7), steals (2.0), and minutes (33.6). He had 10 or more assists nine times last season and 24 times over his two-year college career. His 527 assists ranks second on Texas' career list.

On April 16, Ford was taken by ambulance to an Austin hospital after taking what he described as "a spill'' in a pickup basketball game. He said he was taken to the hospital as a precaution. The university wouldn't release details, citing privacy laws.

Ford spent about four hours in a hospital emergency room.

Underclassmen have until May 12 to inform the NBA that they want to be in the draft. If a player doesn't hire an agent, he can withdraw his name from consideration and not be penalized by the NCAA.