It looks like Marcus Lee is leaving Kentucky, or at least planning on it for the time being.

Lee told ESPN's Jeff Goodman that the junior forward is planning to enter the draft and remain in it, but is keeping his eligibility and not hiring an agent for now.

"I haven't hired an agent," the 6-foot-9 junior forward told ESPN. "Because I want to keep my eligibility just in case I decide to come back, but my plan is to go to the NBA. That's the only goal.

"I want people to know I am serious about this. I've talked to Coach Cal about this, and he definitely understands that I'm going to the NBA this year."

That sounds pretty much like Lee is gone unless he just doesn't hear what he wants to hear from NBA scouts, coaches and key decision-makers. At this point, it's not even a certainty that Lee gets invited to the NBA Draft Combine, but we'll see what happens.

Also, now that Lee is making it clear he strongly wants to be in the NBA, UK can better prepare for how to fill that last scholarship if they miss on Marques Bolden.