FILE PHOTO: Mar 23, 2019; Hartford, CT, USA; Murray State Racers guard Ja Morant (12) talks to a teammate during the second half of game against the Florida State Seminoles in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
April 3, 2019
All-American sophomore and projected lottery pick Ja Morant is leaving Murray State to enter the 2019 NBA Draft, The Athletic reported Wednesday.
Morant averaged 24.5 points and led the nation with 10.0 assists per game this season, highlighted by a triple-double against Marquette — 17 points, 16 assists and 11 rebounds — in a first-round win in the NCAA Tournament.
In a tweet, Murray State teased, “We have some exciting news to share with you this evening!” and invited the campus community to hear an announcement from the 6-foot-3 point guard at 6 p.m.
Morant, who also averaged 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 2018-19, has been projected to be selected as high as No. 2 in the draft behind Duke freshman forward Zion Williamson.
–Tennessee junior guard Jordan Bone said on social media he will enter the 2019 NBA Draft, but indicated he could still return and plans to use the process to measure his NBA readiness.
“I plan to make the most of this opportunity and use the experience and feedback to make the most informed decision about my basketball future,” Bone said.
Bone averaged 13.5 points and 5.8 assists per game last season and was second-team All-SEC.
Prospects face an April 21 deadline to enter the draft process, with a May 29 deadline to decide to stay in the draft or return to college.
–Vanderbilt freshman post player Simi Shittu announced he will enter the draft and hire an agent, which would eliminate his option to return to school.
Shittu, a high school McDonald’s All-American who suffered a torn ACL in January 2018, averaged 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Commodores, who went 9-23 overall and 0-18 in the SEC before firing coach Bryce Drew.
–Deividas Sirvydis, an 18-year-old wing from Lithuania, has submitted paperwork to be eligible for the 2019 NBA draft, according to ESPN, which rates him as the 48th-best prospect for the draft.
Sirvydis is playing for Lietuvos Rytas of the EuroCup League, starting 25 games and averaging 5.4 points and shooting 36 percent from 3-point range in 15 minutes per game, according to ESPN.
–Eugene German of Northern Illinois has declared for the NBA draft but will keep his options open, as he did last year when he returned to school after going through the pre-draft process.
The junior guard averaged 20.4 points this season, shooting 41.4 percent from 3-point range and earning second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors.
–Field Level Media
