Rivers withdraws name from NBA draft

CLEMSON — In the end, Clemson junior guard K.C. Rivers had cold feet about sticking a toe in the NBA draft waters.

Rivers will return for his senior season, the school announced Tuesday, five days before the deadline for underclassmen to declare early entry.

The NBA allows underclassmen one chance to declare for the draft and withdraw after the workout circuit if the player does not hire an agent.

Rivers was expected to receive his NBA draft projection from the league’s underclassmen advisory committee by Monday.

Last week, the 6-foot-5 guard from Charlotte said he would have to contemplate his future if projected as a second-rounder. Otherwise, he saw no need to try to earn an invitation to the NBA’s main pre-draft prospect camp in late May.

“If what they say is not in my favor, do what’s right, and what’s right is to come back to school,” he said at the time.

That apparently was the case for Rivers, who could not be reached for comment.

Although 60 players are selected in the draft’s two rounds, only players drafted in the first round receive guaranteed contracts.

Rivers, who averaged 14.7 points last season, is rated 84th among eligible prospects by ESPN.com — suggesting his participation in the draft would be a substantial risk.

“With the graduation of an outstanding senior class this year, his leadership will be very important,” coach Oliver Purnell said in a statement.