Arizona’s Kobi Simmons Declares for NBA Draft
Arizona freshman Kobi Simmons will declare for
Kentucky freshman forward Bam Adebayo announced Wednesday that he plans to submit his name for the 2017 NBA Draft but will not hire an agent. So long as Adebayo does not hire an agent, he will have until May 24 (10 days after the NBA Draft Combine) to make a final decision as to whether he wishes to remain in the draft or return to Kentucky.
Fellow freshmen De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk announced they will sign with agents, ending their college careers.
Adebayo is currently projected at No. 30 by DraftExpress.com.
“This process we went through at Kentucky was a tough but a rewarding one,” Adebayo said. “It was everything I wanted when I decided to come to Kentucky. It taught me a lot. It taught me how to be a better man on and off the court. I have improved so much since the beginning of the season thanks to the hard work of the coaching staff. They helped me with every step of the process along the way and they never gave up on me.
Malik Monk on Tuesday became the second Kentucky freshman to announce that he plans to enter his name in the 2017 NBA Draft and will sign with an agent, effectively ending his career at UK.
Monk is projected as the No. 5 pick in the Draft per DraftExpress.com, while fellow frosh De’Aaron Fox is projected at No. 6. They become coach John Calipari’s 19th and 20th one-and-dones during his time at Kentucky.
The NBA Draft is June 22.
“After taking some time with my family and reflecting on this season, I have decided to enter my name into the 2017 NBA Draft,” Monk said. “As a little kid, these are words that I could only dream of saying. For that I am very grateful and thank God. I would like to thank Coach Cal for helping me evolve my game and become a more complete basketball player. You pushed me all season to be my best and taught me the true meaning of team and sacrifice. KP (Kenny Payne), thank you for mentoring me on and off the court and helping me perfect my craft while guiding me through the entire process. I want to thank all of the coaches and support staff for investing time and energy in my future and helping me mature as a young man. Month by month I have grown and matured on and off the floor because of you guys.
Freshman point guard De’Aaron Fox is the first Kentucky player this year to announce for the 2017 NBA Draft. He plans to sign with an agent, which would effectively end his career at UK.
The NBA Draft is June 22.
The 6-foot-3 Fox is the projected No. 6 pick via DraftExpress.com to the Knicks, while his teammate, fellow freshman Malik Monk, is at No. 5. Monk has yet to announce.
“First of all, I’m grateful for the unbelievable season we had,” Fox said. “Although the ending didn’t turn out how we wanted it to, this team came together as a family and we achieved things that a lot of people didn’t think we could because we were so young. I want to thank my teammates for being on this ride with me as well as the seniors and specifically Zay (Isaiah Briscoe) for guiding me this season. It wouldn’t have been such a smooth transition from high school to college without their leadership.
By JACOB POLACHECK Arizona freshman forward Lauri Markkanen will
