Boulder, Colo. ? Shooting guard Alec Burks is leaving Colorado early for the NBA Draft after a record-setting sophomore season with the Buffaloes.

Burks was joined by Colorado coach Tad Boyle and his teammates at a news conference to announce his decision Thursday. Burks said he wrestled for weeks with the notion of skipping his final two years of eligibility and consulted with his family, coaches and others, including former Colorado star and current New York Knicks guard Chauncey Billups.

“It was tough,” said Burks, who plans to hire an agent in the coming days. “I was really deciding on coming back. I wasn’t ready to give up the college experience. But I had to make the best decision for myself, and that’s what I feel like I did.

“The NBA is a dream of mine,” Burks said. “I feel like I’ve got to take advantage of it.”

Boyle said that Burks is ready to make the jump, and he fully supported his decision.

“Obviously, he’s proved he can produce in one of the best leagues in the country and at the highest levels of college basketball,” Boyle said. “You’re talking about a situation where Alec can put himself on a course to take care of himself and his family for years to come. It’s hard to begrudge anybody that opportunity, especially someone who has worked as hard as he’s worked.”