Milwaukee Panthers guard Patrick Baldwin Jr. on Friday announced that he will declare for the 2022 NBA draft and forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility.
Baldwin, a former consensus five-star recruit, averaged 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 11 games. He was limited due to a previous ankle injury but produced a double-double in his debut on Nov. 9 with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
The freshman campaign by Baldwin was viewed largely as a disappointment after missing time with an ankle injury. He was the highest-ranked recruit to commit to a Horizon League program after opting to play for his father but ultimately failed to live up to those lofty expectations.
— Patrick Baldwin Jr. (@_pbaldwin23) April 22, 2022
Before arriving at Milwaukee, Baldwin helped USA Basketball to the gold medal at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup, averaging 7.7 points, five rebounds and two assists per game as the team posted a 7-0 record. He had his best game against Korea with 12 points and nine rebounds.
Baldwin, who was previously thought to be a lottery pick, slipped down most draft boards this season and is now projected to be a late first-round selection. Teams will be interested to see if he can return to the level of play that got him to be a highly-rated prospect in high school.
The NBA draft will take place on June 23.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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