Kentucky freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, projected as the No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com, will turn pro after this season, ESPN.com reports.
“He hopes he’ll be able to announce right after they win the NCAA championship,” one source told Chad Ford. “But even if they don’t win it all, he’s coming. He knows he’s going to be a top-5 pick. He can’t pass that up.”
DraftExpress.com has Kentucky’s Anthony Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist first and third, respectively, in its current draft projections, with UConn’s Andre Drummond at No. 2.
“I’m just focused on March, too, right now,” Kidd-Gilchrist told SNY.tv last week in Louisville. “I’m not really worrying about that right now. I haven’t made up my mind.”
The freshman out of Somerdale, N.J., and Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick is averaging 11.8 points and 7.6 rebounds in 31.3 minutes per game.
“He’s an inside offensive player,” one veteran NBA scout told SNY.tv. “He drives in or he posts up. He has a lot of work to do on his perimeter offensive game. He’s a very good rebounder. He has excellent athletic tools.”
“He’s the type of kid that you always want on your team,” one NBA general manager told ESPN.com. “Coaches love him, his teammates love him and he does all the little things that matter on the court. He cares about winning and that’s it. I doubt he ever looks at a box score.”
