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HATTIESBURG - The Southern Miss basketball team will be without leading scorer Jeremy Wise next season. </p>
The guard from Jackson has signed with an agent in preparation for the June NBA draft and will forego his senior season of eligibility, USM announced Thursday.</p>
USM coach Larry Eustachy said it was a financial decision.</p>
"I think Jeremy just wanted to try to make money and that's the bottom line," Eustachy said. "He has the understanding that it's going to be difficult and he's prepared to go overseas."</p>
Draftexpress.com rates Wise as the No. 80 junior entering the June 25 draft. There are only 60 players selected in two rounds, making it unlikely he would be picked.</p>
"I gave him my full support," Eustachy said. "He promised he would come back and get his degree, which he is just a year away from. I anticipated it as a possibility.</p>
"What I feel bad about is that we're coming off a tough year and we're going to be really, really good. It's too bad Jeremy didn't experience that. He's been terrific to coach because he's come so far."</p>
Wise started all 96 games in his three-year career. He averaged 16.7 points last season and scored 1,691 in his career, sixth on the USM all-time list.</p>
Eustachy said Wise's versatility - he played shooting guard and point guard at USM - will get him to the NBA.</p>
"He'll eventually end up in the league sooner or later," Eustachy said. "I think he's a guard that can play both spots."</p>
Despite the loss, Eustachy was upbeat about the prospects for next year. The Golden Eagles return six guards, including Jackson native R.L. Horton, who averaged 12.7 points last year.</p>
"I've never been more excited about where we're headed," said Eustachy, whose team posted a 15-17 record last season. "I talked to Jeremy and told him I'd help him any way we can. I fully supported his actions and I'll be helping him with NBA teams and tryouts."</p> </div>
