Sports

Sources: St. John’s freshman Harkless to enter NBA Draft

St. John’s freshman Moe Harkless, the Big East Rookie of the Year, has decided to make himself available for the NBA Draft, multiple sources told The Post.

Harkless, a 6-foot-8, 209-pound small forward, has three years of eligibility remaining. He can return to St. John’s if he pulls out of the draft without having signed with an agent.

But a source close to the situation said Harkless is eager to start his pro career. He averaged 15.5 points and a team-high 8.6 rebounds.

“Even if he gets picked at the bottom of the first round,’’ one source told The Post, “he wants to start the clock.’’

By that the source means the sooner a player gets drafted and signs his first contract, the sooner the clock starts ticking toward his first big contract. And if a player gets to that second big contract, he becomes eligible for the NBA’s lucrative pension.

Because of the NBA work stoppage, many of the elite 2011 freshmen — Harrison Barnes (North Carolina), Jared Sullinger (Ohio State), Percy Jones III (Baylor) — are sure to come out this year. Throw in freshmen Anthony Davis (Kentucky) and Andre Drummond (Connecticut) and the top of the draft is filling up quickly.

“He needs to stay in school and get better,’’ Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim told The Post’s Steve Serby. “The [NBA] Developmental League is littered with guys 6-7 or 6-8. You’ve got to really be good. He’s a really talented player, but he needs another year.’’

He could get it. St. John’s coach Steve Lavin said he would do everything in his power to help Harkless be in position to make a smart decision.

“We haven’t had a real detailed conversation about everything,’’ his advisor, Nate Blue, told The Post in a text. “Until then the decision hasn’t been made.’’

lenn.robbins@nypost.com