2020 Nico Mannion Receiving High-Major Interest
By JACOB POLACHECK Nico Mannion, the 6-foot-1 point
With the addition of Mohamed Bamba and the return of Andrew Jones, Texas now has two projected first-round NBA Draft picks in 2018.
And expectations for the Longhorns are understandably high.
“How confident are we?” Texas coach Shaka Smart said Thursday on The 4 Quarters Podcast. “I think we have a chance to make a major jump as a program.”
And why not?
The 6-foot-11 Bamba, who chose Texas over Kentucky, Duke and Michigan, is the projected No. 4 pick in the 2018 Draft per DraftExpress.com. The 6-4 Jones, who tested the NBA Draft waters without an agent, is projected as the No. 21 pick.
As for Jones, who averaged 11.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists, Smart expects him to make a big jump heading into his sophomore season.
The return of guard Andrew Jones bodes well for Shaka Smart’s club entering the 2017-18 season.
Jones will join the No. 9-ranked recruiting class in the nation per ESPN.com, highlighted by 6-foot-11 Mohamed Bamba who signed last week.
Bamba is projected as the No. 4 pick in 2018 per DraftExpress.com, while Jones is at No. 20.
Texas finished 11-22 last season, 4-14 in the Big 12. They lost leading scorer Tevin Mack to transfer (Alabama) and second-leading scorer Jarrett Allen to the NBA Draft
Jones elected to withdraw his name for the upcoming 2017 NBA Draft and return for his sophomore season. He recently participated in the NBA Draft Combine and attended several individual and group workouts for selected NBA teams.
