Oklahoma all-America forward Blake Griffin was the No.

North Carolina's Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington are among 49 early entry players who are eligible for next week's NBA draft, the league said Tuesday. Lawson and Ellison helped the Tar Heels to the 2009 NCAA Division I basketball title.

Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet said Tuesday he will declare for the NBA draft, forgoing his senior season. The 7-foot-3 junior averaged 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocks over 36 games in helping the Huskies get to the Final Four this season.

Oklahoma sophomore center Blake Griffin was voted the Naismith Trophy men's college player of the year. Griffin, who led the nation in rebounding and the Big 12 Conference in scoring average, edged Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair; North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough, who won the Naismith Trophy last year; and Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet for the award, which is given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Michigan State beat Connecticut 82-73 Saturday in the opening semifinal of the NCAA Final Four in its bid for a third national college basketball title. Kalin Lucas scored 21 points to lead the Spartans (31-6).