University of Kentucky center Nazr Mohammed may enter the NBA draft, skipping his senior season with the national champions, according to Kentucky coach Tubby Smith.

I’m sure he’s thinking about it, Smith told the Lexington Herald-Leader in a story Tuesday. He’s a smart and intelligent kid. It’s his decision. No one can answer for him.

Smith and the player’s father, Tahiru Mohammed, have advised the 6-foot-10 center to play for the Wildcats next season.

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I talked to my son last week, Mohammed said. He said he was thinking about it (NBA).

The NBA draft is set for June 24 in Vancouver. The deadline for college underclassmen to declare for the draft is May 10.

A player can regain his college eligibility by withdrawing his name before the draft but an NCAA rule enacted this year does not allow the player who is drafted to retain his eligibility.

Jim Mitchell, a Lexington-based scout for the Los Angeles Clippers, also advised that Mohammed stay in school for another season.

He needs to stay in school, Mitchell said. He’s made such improvement. If he makes just normal improvement next year, he’ll be in greater demand.

But there are no (frontline) centers (available in this year’s draft). So someone will take him early. I’d say he’d go in the top 20 pretty easy.

Former Kentucky star Antoine Walker, who entered the NBA draft after his sophomore season, has encouraged Mohammed to think about entering the draft. Both players are from Chicago.

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Antoine Walker is a very, very close friend, Tahiru Mohammed said. Antoine said he should leave everything open. Whatever comes, grab it.

I’d rather see him go back to school. He has a chance to get another championship. He could be the leader.

On several occasions last season, Mohammed said he planned to return for his senior season. He said one of his goals was to make All-American. Mohammed averaged 12 points and 7.2 rebounds last season and was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference.

Mayor Giuliani says city could woo New Jersey sports teams

Mayor Rudolph Giuliani warned New Jersey to back off on trying to lure the Yankees across the river noting that New York can play the raiding game, too.

If they are interested in talking to our baseball team, we are interested in talking to their soccer team, and maybe a few other teams, the mayor said.

New Jersey is home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, who share Giants Stadium. Its other teams include the New Jersey Devils of the NHL, the NBA’s New Jersey Nets and the New York-New Jersey MetroStars of Major League Soccer.

The New York Post reported Monday that Yankees and New Jersey representatives discussed a possible move.

Giuliani has been discussing the possibility of luring new teams since advancing a plan to use a city business tax to help fund the construction of sports stadiums, including homes for the New York Yankees and New York Mets.

Giuliani’s comments Monday at City Hall came after being asked by reporters if New Jersey might cut a deal with the Yankees, whose future at 75-year-old Yankee Stadium is in doubt. The city is negotiating with the Yankees, but it’s not clear if the team will stay in the Bronx or seek a new stadium elsewhere, perhaps on Manhattan’s West Side.

New stadiums for soccer or football are not by any means pipe dreams. We’ve had meetings about it already, the mayor said.