Memphis power forward Chris Massie has decided to bypass his final season of eligibility to enter the NBA draft, the second starter from the NIT championship team to leave the program.

Freshman guard Dajuan Wagner last week announced he would leave Memphis after just one season to go into the draft.

Massie, who transferred to Memphis last year from Oxnard (Calif.) College, filed paperwork with the league last week, he said. He will not hire an agent, which under NCAA rules means he retains the option of returning to Memphis, but his intent is to play in the NBA next season.

Massie, 6-feet-9 and 240 pounds, is projected as a late first- or early second-round choice. He will attend the league's predraft workout camps in an attempt to improve his draft standing, he said, and perhaps make a final decision on his future after that.

"The time just seems right," said Massie, a native of Arcola, Texas, and one of the nation's most heavily recruited junior college players two years ago. "I'm 24 (years old) already and it seems like it is in my best interest to make the move now."

Massie played in 36 games in 2001-02 and averaged 9.8 points and 8.8 rebounds. He ranked third in Conference USA in rebounding, led the Tigers in offensive boards (136) and had a team-best 118 second-chance points.

In the NIT, Massie averaged 13.0 points and 11.2 rebounds despite sitting out much of the championship game in foul trouble, and also had nine steals in five tournament games. Massie shot 56 percent from the field, demonstrating a good touch from 10-12 feet, but just 51.9 percent from the foul line. He had highs of 23 points against Eastern Kentucky and 18 rebounds against Tennessee Tech.

Massie did not play basketball at Elkins (Tex.) High School, and worked a few years for a Houston-area electrical company before enrolling at Oxnard College.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.