Thomas Robinson Officially Declares for 2012 NBA Draft

Thomas Robinson has his sights set on the NBA, and he's wasting no time in capitalizing off his success from this past season.

UPDATE: Monday, April 9th, 1:10 p.m. ET

CBS Sports' C.J. Moore reports Robinson's departure is now official. The star Kansas Jayhawk is leaving to the NBA. 

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F Thomas Robinson officially declared for the NBA Draft on Monday afternoon. Robinson said he has yet to hire an agent and hopes to in the next couple of weeks. Robinson was joined for the announcement by his sister Jayla Robinson on her ninth birthday. “She should be able to remember this one good,” Robinson said.

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According to the Lawrence Journal-World, the former Kansas Jayhawk will declare for the NBA on Monday morning. 

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Kansas University junior basketball forward Thomas Robinson will announce his intentions to enter the NBA Draft at an 11:30 a.m. news conference today in Allen Fieldhouse. KU coach Bill Self confirmed to the Journal-World on Sunday that Robinson would be turning pro. 

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The 6'10", 237-pound forward tore it up this year for Kansas, helping the Jayhawks reach the national championship game. Kansas unfortunately lost to the Kentucky Wildcats, but Robinson still had a heck of a game against the country's best talent. In the title game, the junior forward scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds.

Robinson recorded 27 double-doubles on the year, proving he is a dynamic force in the post. 

Few expected Kansas to be elite this season after losing top talent to the NBA, but Robinson stepped up in a major way, carrying the Jayhawks throughout the year. He averaged nearly 18 points and 12 rebounds per game during the regular season. 

Projected as a lottery pick, it's no surprise Robinson is off to the NBA. Kansas takes another big hit this offseason, but it just shows that the Jayhawks continue to produce top talent year after year.