April 2020 Basketball Wiretap

Zeke Nnaji Leaving Arizona For 2020 NBA Draft

Mar 31, 2020 2:53 PM

Zeke Nnaji is entering the 2020 NBA Draft, leaving Arizona after his freshman season.

Nnaji is ranked No. 34 by ESPN for the draft class. Nnaji was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and also received All-Pac-12 first-team honors.

"Ever since 4th grade I have had the dream of playing professional basketball in the NBA. After consulting with my family and praying about it, we have submitted the required paperwork to the league office. I'm officially making myself available for the draft," Nnaji told ESPN in an email.

Nnaji averaged 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

"It still feels like I'm dreaming because I have never heard of anything like this pandemic happening," Nnaji told ESPN. "Now I'm back at home in Minnesota. I just started doing some light workouts, and I'll continue to ramp things up in the coming weeks. Every now and again, I still go back mentally to Wednesday, March 11th, going through my process of getting ready to play USC before the season was canceled. Now it's time to move forward to the next level, so I'm doing everything possible to maximize this process.

"This is all new to me but I have continued to pray for all the health workers on the front line of this pandemic," Nnaji added. "I can't imagine what their families are going through. I'm continuing to take precautions and do my part through social distancing, but I'm also finding ways to get my work in as much as possible."

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Zeke Nnaji, Arizona Wildcats, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Mac McClung Leaving Georgetown For 2020 NBA Draft

Mar 29, 2020 4:40 PM

Mac McClung will enter the 2020 NBA draft, leaving Georgetown after his sophomore season.

"I have declared for the 2020 NBA Draft while also maintaining eligibility," McClung told ESPN in a text message. "I have submitted my form to the Undergraduate Advisory Committee, and sent in paperwork to the league office. I have also signed with an NBA/NCAA certified agent which gives me an opportunity to go through this process while also maintaining eligibility."

McClung has a big social media following due to his explosive dunks and deep pull-up three-pointers.

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Mac McClung, Georgetown Hoyas, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Killian Hayes Declares For 2020 NBA Draft

Mar 27, 2020 1:45 PM

Killian Hayes has submitted paperwork to declare himself eligible for the 2020 NBA Draft.

"I am officially declaring for the NBA draft," Hayes wrote via email. "I have sent in paperwork to the league office and I'm very excited."

Hayes is the No. 10 rated prospect by ESPN.

Hayes is averaging 12.0 points and 5.6 assists per game for Ratiopharm Ulm.

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Killian Hayes, Ratiopharm Ulm, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations, International Teams

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Onyeka Okongwu Leaving USC For 2020 NBA Draft

Mar 25, 2020 5:02 PM

Onyeka Okongwu is declaring for the 2020 NBA Draft, leaving USC after his freshman season.

“I’m going to forgo my last three years,” Okongwu said.

Okongwu is widely expected to be a lottery pick.

“I honestly have a lot of confidence in myself and I think I established my name this freshman year and I’ve shown that I can play with anyone,” he said. “It gives me more confidence in this decision because I feel like I can develop my game on the next level and really be successful."

“I feel like I can go anywhere in the first round if I keep working during this pre-draft stuff and never lose focus,” he added.


Evan Daniels/247Sports.com

Tags: Onyeka Okongwu, USC Trojans, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Obi Toppin Leaving Dayton For 2020 NBA Draft

Mar 25, 2020 5:02 PM

Obi Toppin is leaving Dayton after his sophomore season for the 2020 NBA Draft.

"I hope everyone is safe and healthy during the current situation going on in the world, the COVID-19. I would like to share the news with you guys that I will be signing with an agent and foregoing my college eligibility by entering the 2020 NBA Draft," Toppin said.

Toppin is currently the ninth ranked prospect by ESPN.

Toppin grew from 6'2 as a high school junior to a 6'9 now.

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Obi Toppin, Dayton Flyers, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Cole Anthony Delays Decision On Draft Declaration

Mar 24, 2020 9:07 PM

Cole Anthony is delaying his announcement on whether he will leave North Carolina for the 2020 NBA Draft or return for his sophomore season.

"A lot of people have been asking me if I'm going to declare for the NBA draft," Anthony wrote on Instagram. "Anyone who knows me understands that playing in the NBA has been a lifelong dream of mine, but given the pain that America and the world are experiencing at this time, I am going to refrain from making any announcements about that topic."

Anthony is a projected lottery pick.

Myron Medcalf/ESPN

Tags: Cole Anthony, North Carolina Tar Heels, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Tyrese Haliburton Leaves Iowa State For 2020 NBA Draft

Mar 24, 2020 12:06 PM

Tyrese Haliburton has declared for the 2020 NBA Draft, leaving Iowa State after his sophomore season.

Haliburton is currently rated as the No. 7 prospect in the draft.

Haliburton averaged 15.2 points, 6.5 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 steals.

Haliburton suffered a fractured wrist in February. 

Jonathan Givony, Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State Cyclones, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Daniel Oturu To Leave Minnesota For 2020 NBA Draft

Mar 23, 2020 9:44 PM

Daniel Oturu plans to enter the 2020 NBA draft, leaving Minnesota after his sophomore season.

Oturu is ranked by ESPN as the 36th overall prospect in the draft.

Oturu averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds and 2.6 blocks for the Golden Gophers and received first-team All-Big 10 defensive team and second-team All-Big 10 honors.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Daniel Oturu, Minnesota Golden Gophers, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Elijah Hughes To Enter 2020 NBA Draft Process

Mar 23, 2020 8:58 AM

Elijah Hughes will enter the 2020 NBA Draft process.

“I cannot thank the Syracuse community and fans enough for embracing me and making me feel welcomed and comfortable,” Hughes said in a statement. “You guys believed in me from the jump and I will be forever thankful for that. I plan to enter the NBA Draft process and try and fulfill my childhood dream.”

Hughes is currently projected as a possible second round pick.

Hughes led the ACC in scoring with 19 points per game.

Chris Carlson/Syracuse.com

Tags: Elijah Hughes, Syracuse Orange, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Cavs Have Done 'Extensive Work' Scouting Deni Avdija For 2020 NBA Draft

Mar 21, 2020 5:19 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers are interested in Deni Avdija heading into the 2020 NBA Draft, according to Chris Fedor of cleveland.com

Fedor adds that the Cavs had done "extensive work" in scouting Avdija, who currently plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Koby Altman, assistant GM Mike Gansey, and director of scouting Brandon Weems have each made overseas trips to watch Avdija in person.

Onyeka Okongwu is also an intriguing prospect for the Cavs, with Altman watching a USC practice and game earlier this season.

Chris Fedor/cleveland.com

Tags: Deni Avdija, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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NBA Executives Expect Reduced Pre-Draft Process

Jonathan Givony ESPN

Tre Jones To Leave Duke For 2020 NBA Draft

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

RealGM Radio: Sam Vecenie On The 2020 NBA Draft

RealGM Staff Report

Anthony Edwards Declares For 2020 NBA Draft

Evan Daniels/247Sports

Bob Myers: Warriors Shut Down Facilities, Klay Thompson Rehabbing 'By Himself'

Anthony Slater/The Athletic

NBA Still Seeking Applications To Provide Feedback To Early Draft Entrants

Jonathan Givony, Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

NCAA Considered Playing 16-Game Tournament Over One Weekend In Atlanta

ESPN

Portsmouth Invitational Canceled Due to COVID-19

Shams Charania/The Athletic

NCAA Men's/Women's Basketball Tournaments Canceled Due To Coronavirus

ESPN

NCAA Men's/Women's Basketball Tournament To Be Played Without Fans In Attendance

RealGM Staff Report

Celtics Were Targeting Eventual Trade For Paul George Until Jayson Tatum's 2nd Workout

Kevin O'Connor/The Ringer