Twelve members of the men’s basketball team and coach Sidney Lowe met with reporters at the team’s annual media day at the Dail Basketball Complex on Tuesday afternoon, but the event quickly became about someone not in the building — junior forward Andrew Brackman.

Brackman, who is also a pitcher for the baseball team, released a written statement declaring his intention to play only baseball this season in preparation for the Major League Baseball amateur draft next summer.

“Because of the hip injury [during the 2005-06 basketball and baseball seasons] and because this is such an important year for me in baseball, I’ve decided that it’s in my best interest to play baseball only this year and to concentrate on getting ready for the [Major League Baseball] draft in June,” Brackman said in the statement. “I’ve been told by scouts that I have a chance to be selected very high in this year’s draft.”

But despite the statement officially announcing Brackman’s decision, Lowe said he hasn’t given up on the chance Brackman might change his mind and still play basketball.

“If he decides not to play, it will be a big loss to us, obviously, because he’s one of our big guys inside, obviously, and a pretty good basketball player,” Lowe said. “But I’m not going to say that the door’s closed on this.”

Meanwhile, Lowe said the team will not have to change its offensive system because of the loss of Brackman, noting all his players will play the same positions they would have played even if Brackman was still with the team.

But if by some chance the 6-foot-9-inch, 235-pound Brackman changed his mind, Lowe said he would welcome him back with open arms.

“He’s one of our kids. He’s part of our family. He’s been on the team before,” Lowe said. “And I’m just not one to close the door on family members. He’s always welcome. The players feel the same way.”

For now, though, the team will have to prepare for the upcoming season, which starts Nov. 10 against Wofford, with the assumption that Brackman won’t be on the court this year.

Before Brackman released the statement, junior small forward Gavin Grant said he was prepared for the season, regardless of Brackman’s decision, but that his teammate still might decide to play basketball again.

“I’m pretty sure his competitive edge is going to start itching soon,” Grant said.

Sophomore center Ben McCauley, who said he considers Brackman a good friend, remarked before the statement was released that Brackman’s imminent decision to play only baseball “wasn’t too much of a surprise.”

But like Lowe and some of his other teammates, McCauley said he’s still holding out hope to see No. 40 suit up in shorts and a basketball jersey again.

“The window is open, and you still get a little bit of the fresh air from it,” McCauley said about the possibility of Brackman’s return. “So hopefully it stays open and gets bigger.”

At the same time, Lowe said he would like to have at least eight players play regularly this season, meaning 7-foot-3-inch, 245-pound freshman center Bartosz Lewandowski may see playing time earlier than he otherwise would have.

“Bartosz is going to have to play. Obviously, he’s a young kid, but he’s going to be possibly thrust into a situation here, especially if Brackman doesn’t play,” Lowe said. “You know, he’s going to have to give us some minutes there. And we’ll go with that.”

And even though Brackman doesn’t plan to play on the hardwood this season, he said the team will still be in his thoughts.

“I look at this basketball season as a redshirt year for me. My primary focus will be on playing baseball, but I still consider myself part of the basketball program. A big part of me will be with coach Lowe and my teammates throughout the [upcoming] basketball season,” Brackman said in the statement. “They are all very important to me. Following the baseball draft in June, I will reevaluate my situation in basketball.”

But for now, he’ll chase what he said has been his lifelong dream.

“Playing professional baseball has been a big dream of mine ever since I was a little kid, and that dream has a chance of coming true in June,” Brackman said in the statement. “Because of that, I feel the most important thing for me is to be as prepared mentally and physically as possible for the draft.”