Bacon declares for NBA draft
TALLAHASSEE — After two seasons at Florida State, Dwayne Bacon is going to chase his childhood dream.
Bacon, FSU’s leading scorer who helped the Seminoles reach their first NCAA Tournament since 2012, announced Wednesday he is leaving school early to enter the 2017 NBA draft pool.
“I’m excited and I feel like this is the best way to go for me,” Bacon said. “I feel like a lot of blessings are coming my way and a lot of people have helped me get to this point as far as my team, and the coaching staff.”
Bacon announced his decision on Twitter, thanking FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton; assistants Stan Jones, Charlton Young and Dennis Gates; and his teammates.
Bacon intends to hire an agent with the help of his coaches after the Final Four, closing any avenue to return to school.
“I am and forever will be a Seminole,” Bacon posted on Twitter.
Bacon returned to school for his sophomore season with hopes of improving his draft stock, taking a different path than former FSU guard Malik Beasley after their freshman season last year.
Beasley, a first-round pick by the Denver Nuggets in 2016, has spent his rookie season in and out of the NBA Development League.
Now, Beasley, Bacon and standout freshman Jonathan Isaac, who has yet to announce his future plans, could give FSU three NBA draft picks in two seasons.
“Last year, I just didn’t feel like I was ready,” Bacon said. “I had a lot of doubt in me that I wasn’t ready opposed to this year I feel like I’m much more mature and got a lot better as far as my game has come along. “I feel like I’m ready.” Bacon averaged 17.2 points and was an all-ACC second-team selection in his final season with the Seminoles, shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range.
Florida State’s season ended in the round of 32 with a loss to Xavier at Amway Center in Orlando. The Seminoles (26-9) were one win shy of tying a school record of 27 wins, set by the 1971-72 team that lost to John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins in the national title game.
While Bacon was able to improve his mid-range shooting and defense, he will have to improve his outside shooting to make a bigger impact at the next level.
Bacon is widely considered a first-round prospect, but he could slip to the second round of the NBA draft in June.
“It gives me a lot of motivation,” Bacon said when asked how he felt about possibly being drafted in the second round. “I feel like I know I can play. A lot of people feel like I can play as well. As long as my name gets called, I don’t mind what round.”
Bacon believes he will “definitely” hear his name announced during the draft. He anticipates a wide range of emotions when that moment arrives.
“It’s a dream that a lot of guys don’t live out,” Bacon said of his NBA aspirations. “I’m sure when I hear it called, it’ll be a lot of joy and a lot of tears. But there’s more work [to do] that comes after that.”