Kansas University's Brandon Rush, left, and Darrell Arthur, center, and coach Bill Self talk with media members. At a news conference Thursday at Hadl Auditorium, Rush and Arthur announced they would enter the NBA Draft.

Darrell Arthur had a case of the sniffles at a Thursday afternoon news conference during which he and Kansas University teammate Brandon Rush announced their intentions to enter the 2008 NBA Draft.

“I wasn’t crying. I’ve got a little headcold,” Arthur, Kansas University’s sophomore power forward, said with a big smile.

He, junior guard Rush and coach Bill Self each wanted to make it clear Thursday was a happy day: Two starters on KU’s 2008 national title team naturally wanted to make the jump to the next level.

“We knew going into the season, and I think all you (media) did, too, that this day was going to come with these two particular guys,” Self said, noting Mario Chalmers had not yet decided whether to put his name in the draft or return for a senior season.

“Brandon is at the point, it’s time for him to move on. ‘Shady’ (Arthur) is at the point where he owes it to himself to investigate. There’s nothing negative. There are no surprises at what transpired today. I totally support these decisions.”

Rush – he declared for the draft a year ago, but suffered a knee injury and returned to KU – will hire an agent and definitely remain in the draft, where he’s expected to be taken late in the first or early in the second round. A player can only “test the waters” once in a college career.

Arthur will not sign with an agent, which leaves open the possibility of returning. The 6-foot-9, 225-pounder, who said he wants to be guaranteed a spot in the first half of the draft (top 15 picks), will work out for NBA teams the first two weeks of June hoping to solidify his stock. Arthur has until June 16 – 10 days before the draft – to withdraw if he wants to play at KU again.

“It’s always been my dream to go to the NBA, a lifelong dream,” Arthur said. “It’s a great feeling. I’m in a win-win situation right now. I think I’m going in the best way possible, without an agent : in case something happens I can come back to school and try to compete for another championship.”

Self said he sees a scenario in which Arthur could return to KU.

“He’s going to be a first-round draft pick. The question is, where is he going to go?” Self said. “If he could be the fifth pick (overall) next year as opposed to 20th this year, it’d probably be in his best interest to be the fifth pick. I think personally Shady can really help himself through (NBA) workouts. If things go well, which we hope they do, then he’ll go.”

If Arthur is deemed a late first-rounder, however … “If he improves at the same accelerated rate he has since he’s been here, I think his ceiling is very high where he could be a very high draft pick next year,” Self said. “I think he feels the same way also.”

Meanwhile, Rush gave KU two years more than many expected when the 6-6 Kansas Citian arrived as a highly touted prep-school player.

“We tricked him into coming back a second year,” Self cracked. “Of course he gets hurt last year and came back and had a great year. He has NBA skills. He’s an NBA defender right now. He has a pro body. He’s a pro athlete.

“He has length and skills that will be important at the next level. We’ve said all along that he’s healthy, but scientific fact says it takes a year to get back. He hasn’t been given that opportunity to come back yet. He’s a better player than he was, and he’s getting ready to be a better athlete (than now). By the time he’s working out in early June for NBA teams, he’ll be even more explosive.”

Rush, whose brother Kareem plays for the Indiana Pacers, said he’s ready to impress.

“I’ve really got to get after it these next couple of weeks and get to work,” he said.

Web site draftexpress.com reports Rush will be tapped 25th and Arthur 21st in the first round.

Both spoke of KU in glowing terms.

“I definitely had a fun time these last three years,” Rush said. “It’s been a dream for me, and I’ll always be proud to be a Jayhawk.”

“It’s been a remarkable two years,” Arthur added. “I appreciate the love I’ve gotten here every time I step on campus. I’ve grown up to be a better, responsible man coming here. I thank everybody for their support.”

Self said Chalmers will be able to come up with a decision by the April 27 declaration date.

“He’s certainly a guy who could be in the first round. He’s in the game,” Self said. “If he goes and is a first-rounder, I’m cool with it. If he is not guaranteed first round, you are playing with fire because he will be first round next year because he’ll be that much better, and there are not as many incoming freshmen. This year there are more freshmen (entered) than any in recent memory. The chances of any guys going in the first round would be greater next year.”

Chalmers is not listed in the draftexpress.com draft. He’s projected as the No. 26 pick of the first round by nbadraft.net, where Arthur is 14 and Rush 19.