Sandra Arthur fully supports her son Darrell’s decision to put his name in the 2008 NBA Draft.

“I’m very proud of him. He’s worked very hard for this,” Sandra said Thursday morning in a phone conversation from her hometown of Dallas. “We talked and we agreed to test the waters to see where he falls. He feels he’s ready to take the next step. We’ll know for sure after the tryouts (for NBA teams in early June).”

Sandra Arthur said she and Darrell will not contract with an agent, keeping alive the possibility the 6-foot-9 forward will return for a junior year.

“If he feels comfortable where he will be drafted, then he’ll move to the next step,” Sandra said. “As of now, we will wait and see.”

Meanwhile, Jeannette Jacobs says she and other family members are happy for her grandson, Brandon Rush, who also declared for the draft Thursday and soon will sign with an agent.

“I’m glad he came back to school for one more year. Of course, I didn’t want him to get hurt (ACL tear). He was able to accomplish a lot of things. Once the championship was won, he made up his mind. I think he feels it’s time to go, time to give it a try,” Jacobs said.

Decisions, decisions

KU junior guard Mario Chalmers has until 11:59 p.m. on April 27 to decide whether to declare for the June 26 draft. Those who do not sign with agents can withdraw their name by June 16.

Sophomore guard Sherron Collins has said he definitely will be back.

Kansas University coach Bill Self said seniors Darnell Jackson, Sasha Kaun and Russell Robinson could be second-round picks.

“They will all go through similar things, without the fanfare because they are seniors,” Self said of workouts with NBA teams. “We hope they all will be invited to Orlando (for May 27-29 pre-draft camp), and all three will be going through the process. They will try to balance school and other activities and try to settle with an agent.”

NBA hopeful

Robinson discussed his future plans with the J-W’s Tom Keegan on Thursday.

“I’ll find somebody to represent me and work from there,” the senior guard said. “Like ‘B’ (Rush) and ‘Shady’ (Arthur), I have to go out there and perform very well. Right now it’s looking like I might be a free agent, but who knows. I just have to go out there and work real hard. I’ve been given an opportunity. I just have to make the most of it.”

Recruiting

If Arthur leaves, KU has an additional scholarship to give. KU would have two grants to give if Arthur and Chalmers leave. One big man possibility is Ater Majok, 6-foot-10, from Sudan, who is considering UConn, KU, Kentucky and Baylor. Another possibility is J’Mison Morgan, 6-10, from Dallas, who signed with LSU, but is considering asking out of his letter of intent. It is believed he will stay at LSU.

A guard possibility is Tyshawn Taylor, 6-3 from Jersey City, N.J., who has asked out of his Marquette letter. He considered KU, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech earlier.

Future looks positive

Self, who has signed juco guards Tyrone Appleton and Mario Little, prep school forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris and high school guard Travis Releford and forward Quintrell Thomas, says the Jayhawks will field a strong team no matter which players bolt for the NBA.

“Depending on Mario’s situation … we still have the best backcourt in the country returning,” he said of Chalmers and Collins. “We’ve got a young big guy (Cole Aldrich) who is a heck of a lot better than a lot of people thought he would be at this stage of his career. The bottom line is we expect to be very good. We don’t have McDonald’s All-Americans coming in, but four of those guys were ineligible for the McDonald’s game anyway (two jucos and prep schoolers). These are all talented guys.”

Self on his role

“Besides telling ‘Shady’ he’s going to go late in the first round? I’m joking,” Self said. “I will collect information. The ball is in their court now. Brandon will have a firm to represent him. ‘Shady’ … I’ve given he and his family my word I’d be totally objective in giving them information. He’ll have the opportunity to work out (for teams) and will have a better feel in going against potential draft picks in the same slot.”

Salary scale

Arthur wants to be guaranteed a spot in the first half of the first round of the draft. The No. 15 pick in the 30-pick first round is guaranteed $1,353,100 his rookie season and $1,454,600 the second year. The team option the third year is for $1,556,100 and fourth year $2,385,500. Compare that to being tapped 22nd. A player receives $980,200 the first year, $1,053,700 the second, $1,127,200 the third and $1,854,240 the fourth. For a complete salary scale, see http://www.mynbadraft.com/nba-rookie-salary-scale-2008/101.