UCF males’s basketball star Taylor Hendricks declared for the 2023 NBA draft on Wednesday, he advised ESPN.
Hendricks, a freshman who rapidly rose in projected mock drafts all through the season, has signed with legal professional Raymond Brothers, the president of Roc Nation basketball, the report stated.
“I want to thank my mom and brothers Tyler and Jamal,” Hendricks stated. “Also, UCF and coach Johnny Dawkins for pushing me to develop my game and help get me where I am now.”
By deciding to forgo his remaining three years of eligibility, Hendricks turns into the primary one-and-done NBA draft prospect in UCF’s program historical past.
The 6-foot-9 ahead began all 34 video games and led the staff in scoring, rebounds and blocks for the Knights (19-15), whose season ended within the second spherical of the NIT in a loss Sunday at Oregon.
Versatile on each ends of the courtroom, Hendricks was the one participant within the nation with 60 or extra made 3-pointers, 55-plus blocks and a minimum of 35 dunks.
“It really came down just trying to win,” Hendricks stated. “Trying to do everything in my skill set to compete every time I stepped on the court, and not going outside of what coach asked me to do. Just playing my role.”
UCF has solely had two gamers drafted within the NBA. Bennie Shaw, a ninth-round choose to Milwaukee, grew to become the primary in 1976. Jermaine Taylor, picked within the 2009 second spherical by Washington, was the opposite choice.
Hendricks is more likely to turn out to be the college’s first participant to be chosen within the NBA’s opening spherical. ESPN draft insider Jonathan Givony just lately projected Hendricks to go No. 14, the final lottery slot, general to the Atlanta Hawks.
Yahoo Sports tasks him to be picked No. 16 by the Golden State Warriors.
A 4-star out of Fort Lauderdale’s Calvary Christian, Hendricks wasn’t even a prime 50 recruit within the 2022 cycle. He was ranked because the No. 67 general prospect in his class, based on the 247Sports Composite scores that mix rankings listed by main recruiting providers.
That didn’t trouble Hendricks, who was trying to discover a program the place he may showcase himself for the subsequent stage.
“A big part of that was choosing the right school,” Hendricks stated. “A place that would let me grow and give me the opportunity to show my skills and develop.”
As the season went on, it grew to become evident Hendricks had severe professional basketball potential. He was picked for a convention document 9 instances because the AAC’s freshman of the week.
“He was a joy to coach,” Dawkins stated of Hendricks this month. “He’s at all times first to say, ‘What can I do to help my teammates?’ and that’s uncommon for a freshman who’s having the kind of yr he’s had.
“You would think he’d be thinking about more of himself, but he’s always thinking about his teammates and that’s why he’s going to be a great player and win a lot of games because those types of kids usually do.”
Hendricks was a unanimous choose for the convention’s all-freshman squad and earned second-team All-AAC after averaging 15.1 factors, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks at UCF.
Prior to the June 22 draft in Brooklyn, the draft mix will likely be held May 15-21 in Chicago. Hendricks maintained it doesn’t matter the place he will get drafted.
“I’ll be there for a reason,” he stated. “I will make the best of any situation.”
Email Jason Beede at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @therealBeede.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com