LOUISVILLE Cardinals and Jamaican basketball star Samardo Samuels has decided to cut his university career short with two years remaining and move straight into the NBA, according to ESPN.com and Big East Conference websites this week.

According to his mother Jacqueline Samuels on the Big East website, the 21-year-old centre would forego his two years of eligibility at Louisville and is presently training in Washingston DC.

She was also quoted as saying: “He is entering the draft and not returning to Louisville.”

Meanwhile, on ESPN.com, it was reported that Samuels will keep his name in the draft and will retain the service of an agent, although when he first entered the draft it was said that he was just testing the waters. But Samuels declared that although he is yet to sign an agent, he has no intention of returning to campus.

Samuels’ coach Rick Patino had said he expected his topscorer and rebounder to return next season.

But now the Cardinals look set to be without the man who led them with 15.3 points and seven rebounds per game.

This will be a significant blow to Lousiville, according to ESPN.com, which noted that they have already lost their top three scorers.

The move, according to both articles, has left the the Louisville administrative and coaching staff surprised and shocked and they believe the youngster is making a mistake.