Apr 25, 2014 10:22 AM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Mitch McGary is headed to the NBA after the NCAA banned him for a full season for a positive marijuana test.

The University of Michigan power forward told Yahoo Sports it was not the way he wanted to turn pro and the wanted to tell the story his way.

McGary missed most of the season due to a back injury and played in only eight games. Still, ESPN evaluators said he has "amazing hands," an "excellent motor," is "strong and imposing" and is an "excellent rebounder and shot blocker." His downside is his post game and that his motor runs too much sometimes to the point of hyperactivity.

The projected second rounder was at a party in mid-March and he had a few drinks, but he turned 21 last June. Someone offered him marijuana, a common occurrence at parties, McGary told Yahoo's Dan Wezel.

"I always turned it down," McGary said. "But that night I didn't."

McGary then sat on the Michigan bench for their Sweet 16 matchup with Tennessee even though he had zero chance of playing. His coach thought it would be good for team morale and the team won, but McGary was selected for a random drug test afterward.

After a week went by, McGary was called to meet with UM coach John Beilein and athletic director Dave Brandon. The Wolverines were eliminated from the tournament and McGary was seriously considering returning for his junior season to prove his back was healed and improve his draft stock.

The NCAA's penalty of a year for the failed drug test was a year and McGary's decision became easy, he would declare for the NBA Draft this June, a year earlier than he may have wanted.

"It's just with the NCAA and their strict rules, they don't show any mercy," McGary. "They take their things seriously."

Beilein told Wezel he was "surprised" because McGary had taken five tests this year alone and passed all of them. In two seasons, the power forward had taken and passed eight tests.

"I don't think the penalty fits the crime," McGary said. "I think one year is overdoing it a little bit."

Earlier this month McGary and UM learned their appeal to the NCAA was denied and the young forward's decision was finalized. In a deep and talented class, McGary will likely fall to the second round, but there is no way to tell if his back will scare off potential suitors.

"If it had been a Michigan test, I would've been suspended three games and possibly thought about coming back," McGary said. "I don't have the greatest circumstances to leave right now [due to the injury]. I feel I'm ready, but this pushed it overboard."

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