Andy Katz of espn.com reports: Western Kentucky senior center Chris Marcus is expected to withdraw from the NBA draft Friday and return for his fourth season of eligibility, fifth season at the school, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com on Thursday.

The school has called a "major news conference,'' for Friday at 5 p.m. ET with Marcus and Western Kentucky coach Dennis Felton. Marcus needs to take one summer-school class to earn his college degree and earn back his fourth season of eligibility after being ineligible for his freshman season at the school.

The 7-foot-1 Marcus, who was a potential late lottery pick, didn't sign with an agent and hasn't conducted any predraft workouts. The NBA failed to get Marcus to return phone calls as to whether he would accept an invitation to play in the Chicago predraft camp next week at the Moody Bible Institute. NBA teams have been waiting for a chance to watch Marcus but without representation, but their pleas have been to no avail.

Marcus was considered the top senior in the 2002 draft, and his departure would mean that either Fresno State fifth-year senior power forward Melvin Ely and/or Gonzaga fifth-year senior point guard Dan Dickau could be the first senior drafted, but possibly not until in the mid-to-late teens in the first round or lower. The first senior taken in the 2001 draft was at No. 6 when the Grizzlies selected Duke's Shane Battier. Only four seniors were selected in the first round of the 2001 draft.

Underclassmen have until June 19 to withdraw from the June 26 draft and retain their eligibility.