Tag: rayshaun hammonds nba

Georgia forward Rayshaun Hammonds makes final decision on NBA Draft

Georgia F Rayshaun Hammonds had made his final decision on his senior year in Athens.

Georgia basketball’s star forward Rayshaun Hammonds announced his final NBA Draft decision on Saturday, via Twitter.

Hammonds will forgo his senior season to pursue the next chapter of his basketball career in the NBA.

Hammonds, who stands at 6-foot-9, 235 pounds, averaged 12.9 points and 7.4 rebounds a game as a junior last season, showing great improvement from his 6.7 and 4.9 as a freshman.  He shot 35% from three-point-range and 46% from the field.

Hammonds was the second-highest scorer on the team behind likely number one overall lottery draft pick Anthony Edwards. The Dawgs’ head coach Tom Crean, entering his third year with UGA, will have to somehow replace the loss of 32 points and 12.6 rebounds a game that Edwards and Hammonds produced last season.

“Rayshaun let me know the other night of his decision and he is following his heart and dreams,” Crean told the Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday.  “We will continue to support him in every possible way as he pursues his future and he will always be apart of the Georgia Basketball family and the University of Georgia community.”

Georgia’s 2019-20 season suddenly ended after a victory over Ole Miss in the first-round of the SEC Tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crean will also be losing his seniors Tyree Crump, Jordan Harris and Donnell Gresham as well as the transfer of freshman Rodney Howard to Georgia Tech. The Dawgs will have to recruit well and rebuild around their only returning starters Sahvir Wheeler and Toumani Camara.

Recruiting will only get harder with the NBA G-League announcing its new pathway program for high school players to take, detouring the NCAA.  There has already been a ripple effect seen, with the nation’s top high school player Jalen Green entering the pathway program.

“We are in the midst of restructuring and remodeling,” said Crean on the matter of the Dawgs recruiting process. “It will be ongoing each year with the landscape of college basketball.”

 

Tom Crean on how he’s helping Rayshuan Hammonds prepare for draft

“This is something he’s wanted to do for some time and it’s his dream,” Crean said shortly after Hammonds announced his decision.

Georgia men’s head basketball coach Tom Crean may not be too keen on the prospect of starting next season without two of his most productive players. He is, however, going help all of his players make the best decisions they can for themselves.

For Anthony Edwards, long considered a top overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, playing a single season in Athens was a forgone conclusion.

For Rayshaun Hammonds, who entered the draft on Friday, declaring early shocked some Georgia hoops fans.

“This is something he’s wanted to do for some time and it’s his dream,” Crean said shortly after Hammonds announced his decision.

Hammonds hasn’t hired an agent and is therefore eligible to return to Crean’s squad for his senior year should he receive less than desirable feedback from NBA teams.

Regardless of how that transpires for Hammonds, Crean wants to help him out however he can.

“My thoughts are to support him every way possible and to help him get the most quality information from the decision-makers so he can sort through what’s real versus what people may tell him that don’t have any decision-making power as far as where he stands. That’s the most important thing. Get the right information and evaluations so that he has the tools to make the best decision.”

Crean elaborated on the “most important thing” for Hammonds:

“The most important thing is to help get quality and thorough information from the NBA underclassmen committee to see where Rayshaun stands, of which we’ve already requested through the paperwork.”

He continued:

“Also, we’ll help get it from the individual NBA teams during a time that is so unique and unknown as far as how this entire draft process will work out for everyone.”

The deadline for underclassmen like Hammonds to make the decision of maintaining their college eligibility or having their name entered for selection is June 15 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

The NBA draft is currently scheduled to take place ten days later, but regarding recent events and global health concerns, the Dawgs’ head coach himself feels in the dark when it comes to potential postponement.

“The process now still seems completely unclear as to how it will play out timing-wise for everyone involved.”

Crean does have some demands from Hammonds in the mean time:

“My expectations for [Hammonds] are to keep working diligently and stay focused on the school work coming and to stay in great shape. Also, to build your skills where you can.”

 

Georgia basketball: Rayshaun Hammonds declares for NBA Draft, maintains eligibility

On Friday, Tom Crean’s Georgia Bulldogs saw its second player declare for the 2020 NBA Draft.

On Friday, Tom Crean’s Georgia Bulldogs saw its second player declare for the 2020 NBA Draft. Star freshman Anthony Edwards declared earlier this month, and junior Rayshaun Hammonds has now joined him.

There is a necessary distinction to be made between the two:

Edwards has hired an agent and thus has no remaining NCAA eligibility (not that he needs it).

Hammonds hasn’t enlisted representation and is free to receive draft feedback from NBA scouts and coaches while leaving open the possibility of returning for what would be his senior season at Georgia.

Should Hammonds receive feedback that he deems less than ideal, he’s free to return to Athens this summer as if he never declared for the draft to begin with.

The 6’9″ forward out of Norcross has been a major contributor for the Dawgs even since his freshman season; he’s averaged north of 24 minutes of play per game since arriving at the University of Georgia.

In his shortened junior season, he posted career highs in points per game (12.9) and rebounds per game (7.4) and finished the year with a 22-point 11-rebound performance in the only game played in the SEC tournament prior to its cancellation.

The current deadline for a final decision is June 15th at 5:00, ten days before the 2020 NBA Draft is scheduled to begin in Brooklyn, New York.