Bradley Beal Will Enter the NBA Draft After One Season at Florida

Bradley Beal helped the Florida Gators to an Elite Eight appearance in the 2012 NCAA tournament, but there will be no encore performance from the star freshman.

Like many other stars in his class, the 6'4" guard is making the leap to the NBA, according to sources cited by CBS's Jeff Goodman.

Beal was a freshman sensation in Gainesville this season, averaging 14.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

His toughness on the glass and overall scoring chops currently make him a projected high lottery pick—possibly in the top five.

He's also a willing defender, which is good considering he's slightly undersized to play against the shooting guards in today's game. But because of his build, about 200 pounds, he's tough and athletic enough to be a good defender at the next level.

ESPN's Chad Ford actually wrote "Ray Allen meets Eric Gordon" under Beal's name on his big board. The ESPN guru currently has him ranked as the No. 3 overall player in the 2012 NBA draft class.

The move to the league is well timed for Beal, and he fits a number of teams in the lottery. At a quick glance, New Orleans at projected No. 3, Cleveland at projected No. 5 and Portland at projected No. 7 are all logical destinations for the Missouri native.