UConn redshirt sophomore forward Alex Karaban has declared for the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility.

Karaban, who has started for the back-to-back national champion Huskies each of the past two seasons, averaged 13.3 points on 49.5 percent shooting (37.9 percent from three) and 5.1 rebounds per game last year.

The latest mock draft from Jonathan Wasserman for Bleacher Report has Karaban landing 54th overall to the Boston Celtics. He ended 38th to the New York Knicks for Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer, while NBADraft.net placed Karaban 35th to the Phoenix Suns.

Karaban appears to be a second-round draft choice, but that's before the pre-draft process (namely the combine in Chicago) should give him a better gauge of how NBA evaluators feel about his prospects right now.

Karaban has the benefit of going back to school (and improving his draft stock) if he so chooses but must make that decision by the early entry deadline of June 16 at 5 p.m. ET.

Ultimately, it doesn't hurt Karaban whatsoever to put himself through the process. Broadcaster John Fanta of Fox College Hoops called it a "win-win situation" for Karaban while praising the forward's game.

We'll see what Karaban decides soon enough, but right now, he's a player to watch when the Combine gets going in Chicago beginning May 12.