Seven-foot twins Brook and Robin Lopez came to the Farm together, and they will leave together.

Just three days removed from Stanford’s season-ending loss to Texas and a day before their 20th birthdays, the Lopez twins announced their decision on Monday to enter the NBA draft through a release sent by their mother, Deborah Ledford, to The Associated Press.

“After a great deal of thought and discussion with my family, I feel it is the appropriate time to enter the NBA draft," Brook Lopez said. “It is the dream of every basketball player to play and succeed in the NBA, and I feel I am ready to take on this new challenge.”

Brook Lopez is considered to be a top-five pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by a number of sources, including ESPN.com, which currently has the sophomore listed as the third pick in its mock draft. CBS analyst Clark Kellogg also deemed him the most dominant player left in the NCAA Tournament when there were 32 teams remaining.

While the announcement of Brook Lopez’s intention to declare for the draft came as no surprise to many - the sophomore big man averaged 19.3 points and 8.2 rebounds while showing himself to be one of the best post players in all of college basketball - the announcement of Robin Lopez was less predictable.

“This has been a very difficult decision for me because I really enjoyed my two years at Stanford," Robin Lopez told the AP. “I have always hoped I would have an opportunity to play in the NBA, and I feel now is the right time to make that dream a reality.”

Although Robin’s numbers were less stellar - 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game - he showed flashes of great potential throughout his two years at the Farm and is considered by many to be a first round pick in this June’s NBA Draft.

Out of town, Stanford head coach Trent Johnson was unavailable for comment regarding the twins’ decision. However, the announcement - especially Brook’s - probably wasn’t the greatest surprise to the fourth-year Cardinal coach.

“It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out this is probably his [Brook Lopez’s] last game in a Stanford uniform,” coach Johnson said after the team’s 82-62 loss to Texas on Friday.

The decision to go pro will soon be set in stone for the twins, as Ledford announced that they plan to sign with an agent, thereby waiving any NCAA eligibility.

“That's something we're still working on and finalizing,” she said. “It's a definite decision. We'll be hiring agents.”

The announcement was certainly not an easy one to make for the twins, whose seven-foot frames have been hallmarks both on campus and on the court. Both said that they eventually plan to return to the Farm in order to complete their degree requirements.

“I have really enjoyed my time at Stanford,” Brook Lopez said. “The university has afforded me a great opportunity to gain an education from one of the finest schools in the country, while also allowing me to develop as a basketball player.”

The departure of the Lopez twins raises many questions about the future of coach Trent Johnson’s program, which experienced a revival of sorts this season after finishing second place in the Pac-10 and reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years.

The brothers were the Cardinal’s two leading scorers this season while juniors Anthony Goods and Lawrence Hill were mired in season-long shooting slumps. In particular, Brook Lopez carried the team through most of the season, whether it was his game-winning shot over Marquette in the second round or his numerous 20-point performances.

That said, it may be more beneficial for fans of Stanford and those surrounding the program to appreciate the Lopez’s two seasons instead of lamenting their departure.

“Nobody's surprised. We wish they were staying, but they made their decisions," Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby said in Spokane, Wash., where the women’s team was playing in the NCAA Regional Final.

“They're terrific players, no question about that. They've done a great job for us.”

<\p>--<\p>The Associated Press and the San Francisco Chronicle contributed to this report.