Eric Gaines will not be testing the waters this time around.

The junior point guard for the UAB basketball team declared for the upcoming NBA draft Friday on social media and is one of two regular starters who will not return next season, joining departing senior Javian Davis.

Gaines played two seasons at LSU before transferring to UAB after the 2021-2022 season and returned for a second campaign with the Blazers after removing his name from the draft last year.

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He averaged 11.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.1 steals, set a career-high scoring mark of 22 points against both Lousiana Tech (2023) and SMU (2024) and posted three double-doubles during his two-year career with the Blazers. Including his time at LSU, Gaines finishes his college career averaging 9.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals.

With the departure of Gaines and Davis, along with portal entrants Barry Dunning Jr., Daniel Ortiz and KJ Satterfield, UAB has five open scholarships with returner Tony Toney yet to formally announce his plans.

UAB starters Alejandro Vasquez, Efrem “Butta” Johnson, Christian Coleman and AAC Defensive Player of the Year and AAC first-team selection Yaxel Lendeborg have all confirmed their return to the program for next season and UAB should be an early favorite to capture the AAC regular-season crown and make a second-straight appearance in the NCAA tournament.

The Blazers finished the 2023-2024 season at 23-12 overall after winning their second conference tournament in three seasons — the first AAC tournament title in UAB’s inaugural season in the league — and advancing to their 17th appearance in the NCAA tournament.