AUSTIN, TEX. ? Texas sophomore forward LaMarcus Aldridge said Monday night he intended to enter the NBA draft, where he’s expected to be among the top picks.

“When I came to Texas, my main two goals were to get started on earning my degree and to have the opportunity to play in the NBA,” Aldridge said. “I’ve accomplished both of those, and the opportunity is there for me right now to begin the next stage of my basketball career.”

Aldridge said he had begun the process of hiring an agent. He made his announcement after the team banquet.

Texas coach Rick Barnes, who Aldridge said talked to NBA officials to gauge the player’s draft position, gave Aldridge his blessing on the decision.

“We’ve talked about it a lot,” Barnes said. “The real story would have been if he came back.”

Aldridge said Barnes talked to NBA officials about how high he might be drafted.

“I have a chance to be drafted in a good spot and be an impact player,” Aldridge said. He said he also considered the financial impact on his family and said it was important that he be able to take care of his mother.

“This is my goal, my ultimate goal as a kid, to make it to the NBA,” he said.

The 6-foot-10 Aldridge averaged 15 points and 9.2 rebounds for the Longhorns (30-7), who won the regular-season Big 12 Conference title and got within one game of the Final Four before losing in the Atlanta Regional final. The 30 victories set a school record.

Aldridge’s announcement wasn’t much of a surprise. He had considered entering the draft straight out of Seagoville High in 2004 before deciding to play at Texas.

His college career has been up and down with flashes of brilliant play and a hip injury that forced him to miss 15 games of his freshman season.

Healthy again for the 2005-06 season, he had 16 double-doubles and a team-high 73 blocks and was named conference defensive player of the year by the Big 12 coaches.