Ohio State F LaQuinton Ross declares for 2014 NBA Draft

As originally reported by ESPN's Jeff Goodman, Ohio State forward LaQuinton Ross is leaving school to pursue a professional basketball career, ending his career with the Buckeyes basketball team.

Ross, who has a young child, has essentially had one foot out the door since first arriving on campus three years prior but typically didn't have the minutes to justify the projections that saw him in the late first/early second round, at best. Following a breakout 2013 NCAA Tournament, Ross led Ohio State with 15.2 points per game (.447 FG%) to go along with 5.9 rebounds.

Declaring is no guaranteed pathway to Ross finding himself in the NBA, though. Particularly after a tough go at it in Ohio State's second round loss to the Dayton Flyers (as well as a season that saw him nearly suspended following a trio of on the court altercations), Ross' professional basketball future may culminate with he playing professionally in Europe. Draft Express pegs Ross as a mid-to-late second round pick, currently 48th overall in the second round to the Chicago Bulls.

In addition to being the same age as some of college basketball's seniors this year, he was also inconsistent this year. Besides his streakiness on the offensive end, his defense (and attitude) sometimes culminated in his spending extended time on the bench. While the ceiling is still high for the mercurial forward, there are no guarantees with Ross. None the less, we wish him the absolute best wherever his professional endeavors take him.