The Roanoke Times | File February

Virginia Tech's Malcolm Delaney averaged an ACC-high 20.2 points this season and was an All-ACC selection.

BLACKSBURG -- Malcolm Delaney declared for the NBA Draft on Wednesday, but that doesn't necessarily mean the junior point guard is leaving Virginia Tech.

Delaney has not hired an agent, so if he withdraws his name by May 8 he will still be eligible for next season.

Declaring for the June 24 draft will allow Delaney to work out for NBA teams and get assessments of his pro potential.

"He's doing the right thing, just to get the feedback he needs so he can make a good decision," coach Seth Greenberg said. "We support him 100 percent. I've gotten some feedback, and he'll get direct feedback from the people he works out for. He'll have about three or four workouts.

"At the end of that, he'll evaluate it. Once the information is gathered, he'll be able to make a decision. I want to do what's in his best interest."

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Delaney averaged a league-high 20.2 points this year. He was a unanimous pick to the All-ACC first team. He shot just 38.7 percent from the field, including 31.1 percent in his final four games. He made an average of nine free throws in his 16 ACC regular-season games, but he is unlikely to draw as many fouls in the NBA.

"I decided to put my name into the NBA Draft to explore all of my options in order to better achieve my goal of getting to the next level," Delaney said in a statement. "It has always been my dream to play in the NBA and I believe this will give me the opportunity to learn more about the process. I will be able to get feedback from various people, including NBA scouts and NBA general managers, and get my name out there."

Delaney has less time to make his decision than players did last year. Because of an NCAA rule change, the deadline to withdraw has been moved up from last year's June 15 deadline.

Returning would give Delaney one last crack at trying to make the NCAA tournament. But last week, he said that missing out on the NCAAs again this season will not have anything to do with his decision whether or not to turn pro.

Early last month, Delaney said he would consider at season's end whether to turn pro but wouldn't make "a dumb decision" because he knows Tech can be "great" next season. He said whatever decision he makes would be "the best decision for me, Virginia Tech and my family, not just for me."

If he returns, he would be a favorite for ACC player of the year and might get some All-America buzz. That would be another reason to return, he said last month.

While Delaney might still suit up for Tech again, backup center Gene Swindle will not.

Swindle played only one game as a redshirt freshman this year because he suffered a torn meniscus and additional damage to his right knee. He had surgery in December but might need another operation.

He will remain on scholarship and still sit on the team bench, but his grant will no longer count as one of the team's scholarships.

"He's physically not capable of playing right now," Greenberg said.