In an announcement that came as a surprise to no one, Charlie Villanueva said Monday he had entered his name into the NBA draft.

“If I have a shot at accomplishing my lifelong dream now, I would have to be crazy to pass an opportunity like this,” Villanueva said on his official Web site, charlievillanueva.org. “I’ve reviewed all of my options carefully and had several long discussions with my family, and I strongly believe I can do this. I have no doubts in my mind. My family is 100 percent behind me, and I have the man above leading me all the way.”

Villanueva, however, will not retain an agent and will follow NCAA guidelines to maintain his eligibility in case he attends college, which sounded like a backup plan Monday for the 6-foot-9, 215-pound senior from Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J.

“My goal is to be in the NBA,” Villanueva said in a phone interview with the Journal-World. “I have that opportunity right now to seize.”

Villanueva is projected as a late first-round or early second-round draft pick. He said if it became clear he wouldn’t be picked in the first round of the June 25 draft, he’ll take his name out of the draft by the June 19 deadline.

He still must decide what college he would attend. Villanueva originally made a oral commitment to coach Bill Self at Illinois but didn’t sign a letter of intent. He reopened his recruiting after Self left the Illini to replace Roy Williams at Kansas University.

Villanueva, who visited KU last week, said Monday he had eliminated Illinois from consideration and had narrowed his choices to KU and Connecticut.

His timeline for visiting UConn was “up in the air,” but the school in Storrs, Conn., definitely had its selling points.

“It’s in the Big East, and it’s close to home,” said Villanueva, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native.

Villanueva said the distance from New York to Kansas wouldn’t hurt the Jayhawks’ chances.

“That’s not a factor,” he said. “You have to make some sacrifices to get what you want. I enjoyed myself out there. It was a family environment. I felt good out there.”

Villanueva would feel even better in the NBA. He’s in no rush, though, to put his talent on display. He said he wanted to enjoy his final weeks as a high school student and likely would work out for NBA scouts after his graduation May 23.

“I know college can improve my game,” Villanueva said on his Web site. “I’ve heard this from a lot of people that one or two years in college can help me, but imagine what those same one or two years in the NBA can do for me. I would be working with professional coaches and trainers.

“I would have no choice but to make basketball my full-time focus. The practices are different in the NBA than they are in college. My competition would be the best and that is something I strongly desire, to work with the best to become the best. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to accomplish my dream.”