April 2022 Basketball Wiretap

Jaden Ivey Declares For 2022 NBA Draft

Mar 31, 2022 8:32 PM

Jaden Ivey has announced he will leave Purdue to declare for the 2022 NBA Draft.

"This has been a lifelong dream of mine and I am beyond excited for this journey," Ivey posted on social media.

Ivey is projected to go fourth to the Detroit Pistons in ESPN's latest mock draft.

Ivey played his best against ranked opponents, averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists in nine games.

ESPN

Tags: Jaden Ivey, Purdue Boilermakers, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Johnny Davis Declares For 2022 NBA Draft

Mar 31, 2022 8:32 PM

Johnny Davis will leave Wisconsin to declare for the 2022 NBA draft.

ESPN currently projects Davis as the No. 9 prospect in the draft class. Davis was named Big Ten player of the year and a consensus first-team All-American after averaging 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 34 minutes per game in his sophomore season.

"This season was an unbelievable ride," Davis said. "People didn't expect us to have the season we had, but the players in our locker room and our coaching staff always knew we had the potential to be a special team.

"With so many great teams and players in our league, it was obviously a huge honor to win Big Ten player of the year, but winning the Big Ten regular season title and playing in the NCAA tournament was so much sweeter. I would like to think NBA teams saw a player who is tough, who competes on both ends of the court every single possession and who will do whatever it takes to help my team win. Every time I step on the floor, I want to be the best player."

Malika Andrews, Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Johnny Davis, Wisconsin Badgers, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Notre Dame's Blake Wesley Enters 2022 NBA Draft

Mar 31, 2022 8:32 PM

Blake Wesley will enter the 2022 NBA draft, saying he has no plans to return to Notre Dame for his sophomore season.

Wesley, the No. 20 prospect in the ESPN 100, was named second-team All-ACC and all-rookie team after averaging 14.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals in 29.3 minutes per game this season.

"I plan on staying in the draft," he told ESPN on Wednesday. "I'm in a great position. I'm ready for the NBA. I'm ready to start my next journey."

Wesley has gone from a little-known high school recruit to a potential lottery pick in the span of a year.

"I'm a tireless worker," Wesley said. "I rise to the occasion. Having such a veteran team alongside me was really helpful. We exceeded everyone's expectations. I'm a 6'5 point guard and there's no else in the NBA draft like me. People tell me I play like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. I study him a lot. I don't know that people realize how well I can shoot the ball."

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Blake Wesley, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Kendall Brown Declares For 2022 NBA Draft

Mar 30, 2022 2:32 PM

Kendall Brown will leave Baylor to declare for the 2022 NBA Draft.

Brown currently ranks No. 25 in the ESPN 100.

In 34 games, Brown averaged 9.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.0 minutes.

Shams Charania/The Atheltic

Tags: Kendall Brown, Baylor Bears, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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David Roddy Declares For NBA Draft, Leaves Open Possibility Of Staying At Colorado State

Mar 30, 2022 2:17 PM

David Roddy will enter the 2022 NBA draft but will maintain his college eligibility and retain the option to return to Colorado State.

Roddy is the No. 31 prospect in the ESPN 100.

"This process is a great opportunity for me to get feedback on what I need to improve and test myself against other draft prospects," he said.

Roddy was an all-state quarterback in high school, drawing Division I scholarship offers in football as well. He has a unique physical profile for an NBA prospect, standing 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, and seeing most of his minutes at power forward and center for Colorado State.

"NBA teams can learn a lot from my journey. I had to earn everything that I have achieved and nothing was given to me. I have gone through a lot of adversity and thrived in every role you can have on a team. From being a sixth man to just a shooter to the leading scorer and vocal leader of a team, there are several important aspects that can help better an NBA organization. Being under the radar helps with motivation and my drive to compete."

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: David Roddy, Colorado State Rams, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Keegan Murray Leaves Iowa To Declare For 2022 NBA Draft

Mar 31, 2022 8:33 PM

Keegan Murray will leave Iowa to enter the 2022 NBA draft.

"I am forever grateful that Coach [Fran] McCaffery gave me the opportunity to live out my dream," Murray told ESPN on Tuesday. "Iowa will always be my home and I'm forever grateful to be part of Hawkeye Nation."

Murray is the No. 5 prospect in the ESPN 100.

Murray took a unique trajectory to emerging as a potential top-five pick this June. He graduated from Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with only one Division I scholarship offer from Western Illinois, prompting him to spend a post-graduate year at DME Academy in Florida, along with his twin brother, Kris.

Murray started this season projected as a first-round pick, but quickly proved to be one of the best NBA prospects in all of college basketball, as a 6-9 forward with a modern skill set and outstanding versatility on both ends of the floor.

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Keegan Murray, Iowa Hawkeyes, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Projected Lottery Pick Tari Eason Declares For NBA Draft

Mar 31, 2022 8:33 PM

LSU sophomore Tari Eason will declare as an Early Entry Candidate for the 2022 NBA Draft. Eason is projected to be a lottery pick in June's draft.

In his first season at LSU, after transferring from Cincinnati, Eason averaged 16.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.2 blocks in 24.4 minutes per game. The six-foot-eight forward was one of college basketball's most improved players this season.

Eason was named to the All-SEC first team, as well as earning SEC Sixth Man of the Year honors.

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Tari Eason, LSU Tigers, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft Declarations, NCAA Misc Rumor

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Josh Minott Declares For Draft, Will Leave Memphis If He Stays In School

Mar 24, 2022 10:31 AM

Josh Minott is entering the 2022 NBA draft and will initially maintain his college eligibility, but will not return to Memphis either way.

"I don't plan to need my eligibility," Minott said. "My work ethic and talent should be able to propel me to a standing in the draft I'm comfortable with."

Minott, the No. 54 prospect in the ESPN 100, was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Freshman team after averaging 6.6 points on 52.2% shooting and 3.8 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game for Memphis.

Minott is intriguing to NBA teams not only because of his youth and upside but also his ability to play multiple positions and budding passing ability. 

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Josh Minott, Memphis Tigers, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Ron Harper Jr. Leaving Rutgers For 2022 NBA Draft

Mar 23, 2022 3:27 PM

Ron Harper Jr. is declaring for the 2022 NBA draft, leaving Rutgers after his senior season.

Harper is a projected second round pick.

Harper says he sees himself evolving into a 3-and-D-style role player at the NBA level in the Robert Covington mold.

"The NBA is more spaced-out basketball; there are different defensive rules. I had to take a lot of contested 3-pointers this year. Those will be open ones in the NBA. The biggest thing NBA teams will see is I'm more athletic than a lot of people realize. I'm going to get my body in the best shape possible to help with that, including improving my eating habits."

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Ron Harper, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Bryce McGowens To Leave Nebraska For NBA Draft

Mar 21, 2022 12:46 PM

Bryce McGowens will leave Nebraska to declare for the 2022 NBA draft, he told ESPN on Monday.

"I am planning on forgoing my college eligibility and hiring agent Drew Gross of Roc Nation Sports," McGowens said.

McGowens is ranked No. 30 in the ESPN 100.

"Having a chance to play with my brother was amazing," he said. "The season went well. It was great to connect with my teammates, learn from my coaches and get the college basketball experience. I felt like every game, every week I progressed in different ways. Whether on the defensive end, playing more efficient or being more of a leader. I was able to learn a lot on and off the court at Nebraska and how to handle myself as a professional."

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Bryce McGowens, Nebraska Cornhuskers, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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