Dee Brown’s done almost everything he wanted to do in college. He collected four rings, nearly completed his degree and had a “pretty hot” girlfriend. So when Brown announced Friday that he’ll enter June’s NBA draft, he wasn’t kidding about facing his next challenge.

Illinois’ junior guard will enter the draft, but has not hired an agent. If he’s projected to be chosen lower than he’d like, Brown says he’ll be back in Champaign come fall – but he’s hoping to go pro.

“I’m trying to go out there and better my future, better my life,” Brown said before workouts at the Ubben Basketball Practice Facility.

Brown had been slow to say anything definite about his plans until Friday, but said he owed it to fans to make an announcement now, rather than waiting until the last second.

He has until June 21 – one week before the draft – to withdraw his name and retain NCAA eligibility. If Brown remains in the draft or hires an agent, as fellow junior guard Deron Williams did, he will have no opportunity to return to college basketball.

“We certainly understand Dee and his family’s desire to more closely explore his NBA options and gain a better understanding of where his position would be in the draft,” Illinois head coach Bruce Weber said in a statement Friday.

In his third season as an Illini, Brown was the Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 13.3 points and 4.5 assists per game. His 43.4 percent 3-point shooting ranked 12th in the nation.

Last year, Weber submitted Brown’s, Williams’ and senior forward Roger Powell Jr.’s names to the NBA advisory board to see how the players would fare if they had gone pro then. All three returned to lead Illinois to a 37-2 record and its first ever National Championship appearance.

“In my mind I was both ways,” Brown said about his decision this year. “It really didn’t matter which way I went; I was happy. I’ve been going back and forth, but you have to pick one. It’s like a multiple-choice test.”

Brown said before that he enjoyed school and planned to return. At the Illinois Basketball Celebration at Memorial Stadium on April 5, Brown – who is three hours and an internship shy of walking this weekend – said he was looking into graduate school.

“I feel that if there’s an opportunity that comes my way you can’t turn that down, but I don’t think the opportunity will come,” Brown said at the time. “I think I’m going to be here one more year.”

If the Maywood native leaves, junior forward James Augustine will be Illinois’ only returning starter. Guard Luther Head and Powell, Jr. are seniors and Williams is now ineligible. To hear Brown talk, chances are good Augustine will be Illinois’ sole senior in 2005-’06.

“I’m just enjoying these last few days of college and having fun,” Brown said. “You all can do the thinking, I just live.