Freshman forward Moe Harkless confirmed on Monday his long-rumored decision forego his final three years of eligibility and enter the NBA Draft.

“It has been my lifelong dream to play in the NBA, and I am excited to have that opportunity to make the jump,” Harkless said in a press release. “I am grateful to my teammates and coaches at St. John’s. I would like to thank [head] coach [Steve] Lavin, our staff and my teammates for being there for me throughout the whole season.”

Harkless was the Big East Rookie of the Year in 2011-12 after averaging 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per games during St. John’s 13-19 season.

Lavin and said that he and Harkless had numerous conversations, some at “three or four in the morning” according to Lavin, and that the freshman was steadfast in his decision to enter the league.

“If you’re [selected at] 8, 18, 28, 38, does that change your thinking?” Lavin said. “And for Moe, it didn’t”

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See the full story in this week’s edition of the Torch, on newsstands March 21.