Lee Cummard considered it anyway. A recent text message just convinced him even more that looking at the NBA was the right thing to do right now.

But also agent-less teammate Trent Plaisted informed him that the NCAA rule had changed recently, and underclassmen were able to have all expenses paid for by NBA teams as they traveled the country to work out their professional aspirations.

"I was thinking about it even before I found that out," Cummard said. "Just because it's an option when you haven't done it before, and you're done with a junior season. The experience would be good. But when I found out that NBA teams would be allowed to pick up the bill, that really made me look even closer."

Cummard was BYU's top scorer (15.8 points) while stuffing the stat sheet in myriad ways for a 27-8 team that won a second consecutive outright conference title and advanced to the NCAA tournament. His upside would appear to be his ability to affect a game in many ways, from long-distance shooting to using his lanky arms for steals and rebounds -- a solid knack for knowing where the ball is.

His downside? Well, Cummard is the first to say he needs to bulk up his body that's listed in the school's media guide at 185 pounds.

"I'm going to try my best," Cummard said by phone from his native Arizona, where he is spending a few days after finishing up his semester (he's about a year away from a degree). "I'm curious what's out there and I want to see if I can make some noise, climb the ladder as much as I can."

Just like Plaisted a few weeks ago, Cummard downplayed the magnitude of his decision. though he did get a kick out of people calling him while his announcement spread on various sports TV station's tickers. Cummard pointed out the process is just getting underway.

Cummard and Plaisted have both started the last three years at BYU (Plaisted sat out most of his true freshman season, 2004-05, with injury). While both were first-team all-Mountain West Conference selections this year, Cummard gets the edge in accolades because he shared the league's player of the year award with New Mexico senior J.R. Giddens. Plaisted was second on BYU in scoring, less than a point (0.2) behind Cummard.

Players have to declare NBA intentions by Sunday.

The first really important date of next season for BYU is June 16. That's when prospects who wish to return to school must say so. The draft is June 26.

BYU head coach Dave Rose said he will seek out "as much information as possible" on his two NBA candidates, and he's supporting both ventures. Better to let them see the process rather than have any what-ifs next winter.

Cummard confessed his wife (the 23-year-old also has a young child) didn't want him to bother looking at the NBA.

"She's supportive," he said, "but she didn't really want me to deal with all of that. Getting a degree is very important to her."

Rose said he's planning on having Plaisted and Cummard back next year, but the next few weeks would make the situation clearer on whether their scholarships would become available.

The 6-11 Plaisted announced his intentions April 10, which was even less surprise than Cummard's decision.

Rose said frequent discussions with both players have never entertained thoughts of leaving college early for lucrative contracts in Europe or elsewhere.

"I'm not going to do that," Cummard said.

The first goal for both Cougars is to get invited in early June to the Orlando (Fla.) pre-draft camp, which is selected by a committee with input from every NBA team.

There could be around 60-70 participants, according to one league official.

Rose said BYU's potential third option to give NBA workouts a try, sophomore power forward Jonathan Tavernari, will not explore it this year. Instead he's expected to go home to Brazil and try to compete with the national team.

While NBA officials appear to be divided on whether more underclassmen declaring is a good thing, it's definitely a trend.

ESPN.com reported that 32 tried it out last year, and there are about 50 in the mix right now. Getting travel and other expenses covered is surely affecting the equation.