Myles Turner Declares for 2015 NBA Draft: Latest Details and Reaction

With a bright pro future ahead of him, as well as being a likely lottery pick, Myles Turner is leaving Texas after one season. 

 Turner announced he will make himself eligible for the 2015 NBA draft Monday morning:

Many pegged Turner for the NBA basically since his arrival in Austin, and he was even asked about it after the Longhorns lost to Butler in the NCAA tournament. At the time, per Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman, he didn't want to answer the question:

While no one can blame a player for how he feels right after a loss, Turner's return to Texas would have been a surprise. He ranked ninth on ESPN Insider Chad Ford's big board before the NCAA tournament began:

"

Turner is inconsistent. Maddeningly so... Rick Barnes has a logjam in the middle and does not really seem to know how to best use his talented freshman center. But scouts are not down on him at all, despite his up-and-down play. He is big, protects the rim and can shoot the 3. Plus, everyone I have spoken with thinks he will be much better in the NBA.

"

That inconsistency will keep Turner out of the mix for a top-five pick in what should be a strong class after everyone declares, but athletic 6'11" forwards don't grow on trees. His ceiling is high, but it didn't always look that way when he was averaging 10.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Turner's development curve will also be bigger than those of some other top prospects simply because Texas didn't know how to use him. He played just 22.2 minutes per game, even coming off the bench in the NCAA tournament.

As far as what Turner could be, Chuck Cooperstein of ESPN Radio 103.3 in Dallas offers an optimistic projection with the caveat that it will take a few years:

LaMarcus Aldridge is an apt physical comparison for Turner, as both are 6'11" and like to shoot jumpers. The difference is Aldridge wasn't as green as Turner when he came out of Texas in 2006, so there were more immediate results than we are likely to see this time around.

Regardless, Turner's potential is huge and should give him plenty of noteworthy suitors once the June draft workouts begin. He won't be on the board long, so this move makes perfect sense for the teenage sensation.