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Oklahoma Sooners' Blake Griffin smiles after becoming the high scorer during their NCAA men's South Regional basketball game against Syracuse Orange in Memphis, Tennessee March 27, 2009. REUTERS/Tami Chappell

MIAMI (Reuters) - College basketball's player of the year Blake Griffin will forego his final two years at Oklahoma University to enter the 2009 NBA draft, he said on Tuesday.

The Oklahoma Sooners announced on its official website (www.soonersports.com) that the forward, who led the team to the Elite eight stage of the NCAA Tournament, would be part of the draft which is due to be held on June 25.

With his record as a sophomore, averaging 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds, Griffin is likely to be near the top of the draft -- possibly the number one.

"It was tough, I love playing here, this is my home state and a school I wanted to come to and it is tough to walk away from something like this.

"But at the same time this is a big opportunity and I felt like I was ready for it this year as opposed to last year," Griffin told a news conference.

The order of the teams entering the NBA draft is based on a lottery system involving teams that do not make the playoffs.

(Editing by Justin Palmer and Ken Ferris)