Rutgers star Epiphanny Prince skipping senior season to play professionally in Europe

Prince leaves Rutgers to play basketball abroad

NEW YORK — Rutgers star Epiphanny Prince is skipping her senior season to play professionally in Europe, one of the first American women to do so.

The school said Tuesday she has not signed with an agent or chosen a team. She plans to enter the 2010 WNBA draft.

Prince averaged more than 19 points last season as a junior and was a third team All-American. She guided Rutgers to the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament last season.

Candace Parker left Tennessee with a year of eligibility remaining, but she already had graduated when she was the top pick in the WNBA draft in 2008. Male basketball players have been leaving early for the NBA for years.

Prince’s decision was first reported by The New York Times on its Web site.

(This version CORRECTS APNewsNow. corrects lede to one of the first American women; Will be UPDATED.)