Wake Forest freshman Bobi Klintman reportedly withdrew from the NBA draft combine and informed the program he will not return to school, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.
Klintman was among the 78 prospects invited to participate in the annual scouting event, which started Monday in Chicago, Illinois. He initially declared for the draft with the option to return to school, but will now apparently keep his name in and forgo his remaining eligibility.
The 6-foot-10 forward has climbed draft boards early in the process given his size and potential. By withdrawing from the combine, it is possible that Klintman has secured a first-round draft promise from a team.
Sources: Bobi Klintman has pulled out of the NBA Draft Combine. Klintman has also recently informed Wake Forest that he is not returning to college.
Klintman is currently ranked 15th on my big board in The Ringer’s NBA Draft Guide. pic.twitter.com/x7NFbTyJeh
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 15, 2023
Klintman, who was born in Malmo, Sweden, averaged 5.3 points and 4.5 rebounds on 36.8% shooting from 3-point range. He became the first Wake Forest freshman since Tim Duncan in 1994 to record a double-double in the ACC Tournament (17 points, 11 rebounds).
He is viewed as one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. His counting stats don’t necessarily jump off the page, but he can do a little bit of everything. He is still raw in terms of his ability, but developing in an NBA system will certainly help him in the future.
The move to opt out of the combine will create plenty of speculation regarding a potential draft promise. It will be something to monitor as the draft approaches on June 22.
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