Pitt forward Chris Taft announced on ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza” that he will give his junior and… Pitt forward Chris Taft announced on ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza” that he will give his junior and senior years at Pitt the cold shoulder and declare himself eligible for the NBA Draft.

Taft, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native, has been talked about as a high draft lottery pick from the moment he claimed a starting role at Pitt last season as a freshman. Despite an off-and-on 2004-05 season that ended with Pitt losing its first games in the Big East and NCAA tournaments, Taft has decided to leave Pitt.

Dixon, who could not be reached for comment, was quoted on PittsburghPanthers.com saying that he supported Taft’s decision.

Taft, who was a pre-season candidate for first team all-Big East, only ended up receiving an honorable mention at season’s end.

Taft averaged 13.3 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore, with 25 points against Providence and a career-high 26 points posted in Pitt’s final regular season game of the year at Notre Dame.

Junior guard Carl Krauser is also expected to leave early, with ESPN.com reporting that he will enter the draft without an agent, leaving him the option of returning to school.

Taft, according to Pitt athletics, has not hired an agent, but is expected to.