Tag: 2021 nba draft

Arkansas freshman Moses Moody will hire an agent and enter NBA draft

Moody was one of only three freshmen in the country to average at least 15 points and five rebounds per game.

On Friday, Arkansas guard Moses Moody announced on ESPN’s “The Jump” that he will sign with an agent and enter the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining collegiate eligibility.

Moody was named the SEC Freshman of the Year after averaging 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and one steal in 32 games with the Razorbacks. He was one of only three freshmen in the country to average at least 15 points and five rebounds.

The 6-foot-6 guard is widely expected to be a lottery pick in the NBA draft given his ability on both ends of the floor. After converting on 35.8% of his attempts from 3-point range, he projects to be a strong 3-and-D prospect at the next level.

Moody showed at Arkansas that he can be a strong shooter after excelling in catch-and-shoot opportunities and off the dribble. Given his skillset, and ability this year to participate in pre-draft workouts, Moody could even help improve his stock before the draft.

The NBA draft is set to take place on July 29.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Javonte Smart officially declares for the NBA draft

First Trendon Watford, now Javonte Smart. On Thursday, LSU junior guard Javonte Smart made it official, he was entering the 2021 NBA draft

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First Trendon Watford, now Javonte Smart.

On Thursday, LSU junior guard Javonte Smart made it official, he was entering the 2021 NBA draft and hiring an agent. His time in Baton Rouge is officially over.

While this is unfortunate for LSU head coach Will Wade, it was certainly expected.

Smart released the following statement via his Instagram account:

“First I want to thank God for the many blessings upon me! To the LSU coaches, managers and my teammates (brothers), I thank you for an amazing three years,” Smart said.

“I, along with my family, have decided to enter the 2021 NBA Draft with an agent. Thank you all for the many prayers and support!”

Smart, a Baton Rouge native, was a four-star recruit in the 2018 class. He steadily improved in each of his three years with the Tigers, averaging 16.0 points, 4.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game in 2020-21.

The biggest area the 6-foot-4, 205-pound combo guard improved was his 3-point shooting. He shot 40.2% from beyond the arc last season, after entering his final season with the Tigers as a career 32% career 3-point shooter.

Smart will be a hot commodity at the next level due to his ability to play both guard spots. His improvement as an outside shooter, in addition to his ability as an on-ball defender, should allow him to play early in the NBA.

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Sixers mock draft: Baylor guard Jared Butler fills a bench need

A mock draft has the Philadelphia 76ers selecting Baylor guard Jared Butler.

The Philadelphia 76ers are in the midst of another four-game road trip as they continue to steamroll toward the playoffs beginning on May 22. The Sixers are sitting near the top of the East. They are the No. 2 seed behind the Brooklyn Nets, but why not look to the future?

The Sixers have the 27th pick in the 2021 NBA draft, and there are a few options the team can explore in the draft. Mostly, they will need to target guys who can help the bench. One such player is a national champion.

In a mock draft performed by NBC Sports Bay Area, it has the Sixers selecting Baylor guard Jared Butler, who can play both guard positions:

Why Butler?

3-pointer? Check. Ability to distribute? Check. NBA body? Check. Butler is one of those veteran college players that makes an impact at the next level. He knows who he is, and he has a game that translates. He’s also a big time winner and has Baylor in the hunt for a national championship.

The Sixers need depth and an older prospect that might be able to fill in early in his career. He’s also a winner and player that might stick around the NBA for a while as a rotational player.

Butler shot 41.6% from deep in his junior season for the Bears and he is a guy who can run an offense as well. He is a guy who also has a high basketball IQ as he just understands how to play the game and he understands his role. He will be a guy who would be a very nice fit on this team’s roster.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Report: Baylor star Davion Mitchell to declare for 2021 NBA draft

Mitchell was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 14.1 points, 5.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals 30 games.

Baylor guard Davion Mitchell will reportedly hire an agent and declare for the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining collegiate eligibility, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Mitchell, who led the Bears to the national championship on Monday, was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 14.1 points, 5.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals 30 games. He was also named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, the first in school history to win.

The 6-foot-2 guard entered the NCAA Tournament projected to be a first-round pick, but many believe he likely helped improve his stock following his run with Baylor. According to Jordan Schultz of ESPN, executives and scouts believe he will likely be a top-10 pick in the draft.

Mitchell shot 44.7% from 3-point range on 4.7 attempts per game and has emerged as a strong 3-and-D prospect given his elite defensive ability. His explosiveness and skills as a ballhandler will also offer plenty of intrigue to teams in the draft.

The NBA draft is set to take place on July 29.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Take a look at how these three Gators fared in this NBA mock draft

Tre Mann achieves his dream of playing in the NBA, while the other two Gators who filed for the draft go unpicked in this recent mock draft.

Now that college basketball’s regular season has drawn to a close and the NCAA tournament is coming to its climax, the NBA draft season is steadily picking up steam. The upcoming class is widely praised for its immense top-flight talents, outside of that elite group, there’s a lot we still don’t know about the 2021 NBA draft.

In Bleacher Report’s latest full two-round mock, departing Gator Tre Mann was drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the 23rd pick in the first round. Mann, a five-star recruit who struggled his freshman season, benefitted from added size and parlayed his growth into a highly productive season.

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Here’s what Bleacher Report had to say about the pick:

23. Denver Nuggets: Tre Mann (Florida, PG/SG, Sophomore)

Mann averaged 21.3 points in four games between both postseason tournaments, giving scouts more glimpses of shot-creation and shooting versatility. It’s worth questioning if he’s an effective enough playmaker to be used as a primary ball-handler, but he still offers an exciting mix of off-the-dribble scoring and setup ability for a combo guard.

The Nugs could use a more effective backup for star point guard Jamal Murray than Facundo Campazzo, but Murray is a 35-minute per game player and they’re also carrying multiple highly paid players at the shooting guard position. That makes Mann – an exciting shooter who isn’t a natural facilitator – an awkward fit with the team, who would seem better off targeting a big man to replace the aging Paul Millsap.

NEXT: What about Scottie Lewis and Colin Castleton?

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Sixers mock draft: Marcus Bagley would bring stretch 4 capability

In a new mock draft, the Philadelphia 76ers are selecting Arizona State product, Marcus Bagley.

The Philadelphia 76ers are in the midst of a playoff race with the roster they have created around star duo Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. The Sixers are the No. 2 seed in the East heading into the stretch run.

However, the 2021 NBA draft is scheduled for July 29, and the Sixers have the 27th pick in the draft and needs to be filled. One need is a stretch 4 behind Tobias Harris off their bench. With their pick, there is a player who can get that done.

In a mock draft performed by Bleacher Report, the site has the Sixers selecting Arizona State standout Marcus Bagley:

Despite Bagley only playing 12 games, his shooting stroke for a 6’8″ forward was convincing. Teams should see a one-dimensional but useful stretch 4—just not a creator.

Bagley averaged 10.8 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 34.7% from deep on 6.0 attempts per game. The Sixers could use a guy like that. With Mike Scott set to enter free agency in the offseason, they will need somebody else to groom and bring off the bench.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Auburn guard Sharife Cooper will declare for draft, sign with an agent

Cooper was one of just seven players to average at least 20 points and eight assists per game over the last 25 years.

Auburn freshman Sharife Cooper on Friday told Jonathan Givony of ESPN that he will sign with an agent and declare for the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining collegiate eligibility.

Cooper, who is projected to be a first-round pick, was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team after averaging 20.2 points, 8.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds and one steal in 12 games with the Tigers. He was one of just seven players to average at least 20 points and eight assists over the last 25 years.

The 6-foot-1 guard missed the first 12 games of the season for Auburn due to eligibility issues with the NCAA. He eventually debuted on Jan. 9 versus Alabama, recording 26 points, nine assists, four rebounds and three steals in his debut.

The 19-year-old projects to be a highly-coveted guard in the draft given his quickness and ability to find teammates on the court. Offensively, he has the skillset to create for himself while using his athleticism to get to the rim and draw contact.

His 8.6 free-throw attempts per game would have led the nation over a full season.

Cooper is currently projected by some mock drafts to go as high as seventh and as low as 25th. His sample size at Auburn was rather small, but he likely can help improve his stock through private workouts and the combine, which is set to run June 21-27.

The NBA draft is set to take place on July 29.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Gators shooting guard Scottie Lewis leaving Florida for the NBA draft

The Florida Gators’ mass exodus continues as Lewis, a five-star recruit, announced his intention to leave the program on Thursday evening.

Thursday evening, Scottie Lewis announced on his Instagram account his intent to leave the Florida program enter the NBA draft.

The news came in the form of a lengthy open letter reflecting on his journey to this point in his career. He gave special thanks to his parents, the Florida coaching staff, and Gators nation. Lewis waxed emotional, penning his feelings that “it has been an absolute honor to wear that gator logo on my chest day in and day out.”

When the Gators brought Lewis to Gainesville, he came with the high billing of a potential one-and-done player. Things haven’t quite gone to plan for the five-star shooting guard, though, and in retrospect, it’s possible that the hype surrounding him was fueled in part by his being part of a weak year from recruiting.

Nonetheless, was a useful player to have in the program, bringing his high energy and leadership skills to the court. The tantalizing potential for him to put the pieces together and break out is still extant, although less likely after two adequate but unspectacular years with the Gators.

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His choice comes as a bit of a surprise, given his lack of standout production with the Gators. His offensive skillset is highly scheme-reliant, so whichever team takes a chance on him will have to do so with a plan in mind of how to use him correctly. However, it’s not a completely shocking decision, given the mass exodus of talent from the program and the still-uncertain status of his primary partner on the court, Keyontae Johnson.

Lewis joins fellow guards Tre Mann, Noah Locke and Ques Glover, power forward Osayi Osifo, and center Omar Payne as the sixth Gator to leave the program. However, unlike those in the transfer portal, Mann and Lewis eliminated their remaining NCAA eligibility by hiring an agent. Therefore, there’s no possibility of a return to Gainesville.

We at GatorsWire wish Scottie Lewis all the best in his future endeavors and look forward to seeing how he fares at the next level as a pro.

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Potential No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham declares for NBA draft

Cunningham became the first player in program history to be named to the Associated Press All-American First Team.

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Oklahoma State freshman Cade Cunningham on Thursday announced in a press conference that he will enter the 2021 NBA draft and forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility.

Cunningham, who is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick, averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals in 27 games with the Cowboys. He became the first player in program history to be named to the Associated Press All-American First Team.

The 6-foot-8 guard entered the year widely expected to play just one season with the program. His play throughout the year likely solidified his standing as the potential top pick after leading the Cowboys to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Cunningham, who was joined by head coach Mike Boynton Jr. during the press conference, wanted to wait until the time was right to make his decision following the Cowboys’ exit from the tournament.

“I was just blessed to have the opportunity to enter into the draft,” Cunningham said. “I feel like I have done a lot of the work early to be able to be in that position. When the time came, I feel like it was something that I had to do for my future and for my family’s future so I thought it was the best thing to do. I’m excited to step into this next chapter of my life and see how it’s going to go.”

With his collegiate career officially over, Cunningham will now look ahead to the NBA draft. He projects to be able to step in immediately and make an impact at the next level given his size, strength and dynamic scoring ability on the court.

Given his skillset, many believe Cunningham has the ability to be a transcendent star in the NBA that can drastically change the course of a franchise.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Potential No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham declares for NBA draft

Cunningham became the first player in program history to be named to the Associated Press All-American First Team.

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Oklahoma State freshman Cade Cunningham on Thursday announced in a press conference that he will enter the 2021 NBA draft and forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility.

Cunningham, who is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick, averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals in 27 games with the Cowboys. He became the first player in program history to be named to the Associated Press All-American First Team.

The 6-foot-8 guard entered the year widely expected to play just one season with the program. His play throughout the year likely solidified his standing as the potential top pick after leading the Cowboys to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Cunningham, who was joined by head coach Mike Boynton Jr. during the press conference, wanted to wait until the time was right to make his decision following the Cowboys’ exit from the tournament.

“I was just blessed to have the opportunity to enter into the draft,” Cunningham said. “I feel like I have done a lot of the work early to be able to be in that position. When the time came, I feel like it was something that I had to do for my future and for my family’s future so I thought it was the best thing to do. I’m excited to step into this next chapter of my life and see how it’s going to go.”

With his collegiate career officially over, Cunningham will now look ahead to the NBA draft. He projects to be able to step in immediately and make an impact at the next level given his size, strength and dynamic scoring ability on the court.

Given his skillset, many believe Cunningham has the ability to be a transcendent star in the NBA that can drastically change the course of a franchise.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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