’Canes forward Huell to declare for draft
Miami Hurricanes sophomore forward
has decided to declare for the NBA draft but won’t retain an agent, leaving him the option of continuing his college career.
The school announced Huell’s decision Monday. Teammate
also a sophomore, made the same decision earlier.
Players have until April 22 to enter the draft and until June 11 to withdraw. The draft is June 21. Miami freshman guard
also is considering turning pro this year and is projected as a potential lottery pick.
The 6-foot-11 Huell averaged 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds this season and started all 32 games. The Hurricanes lost to LoyolaChicago in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and finished 22-10.
the Big Ten defensive player of the year as a freshman for Michigan State, is leaving early for the NBA.
“Spartans, this was not an automatic decision,” he tweeted Monday.
“And honestly, thank you for making it one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to think about. While playing in the NBA was always my dream and desire, I did not know the opportunity would present itself in quite this way.
“I’m ready to live my dreams and I cannot pass it up.”
Jackson was also the Big Ten freshman of the year, joining former Ohio State star as the only players in conference history to pull off the feat. Coach expected Jackson to be a one-anddone player.
“It was a difficult decision for him, which is kind of neat,” Izzo told Associated Press in a telephone interview.
“He made the right decision, no doubt, because he’s just going to be too high of a pick.
“The more I’m hearing, he could go three or four [overall] and the ceiling seems to be five.”
The 6-foot-11, 242-pound Jackson blocked 106 shots, a single-season record for the Spartans, and swatted a Big Ten-best 3.03 shots per game.
The forward averaged 10.9 points plus 5.8 rebounds and made nearly 40 percent of the 96 3-pointers he attempted. His father,
played for the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs and had a 431-game career with many teams. His mother,
is the director of operations for the Women’s National Basketball Players Association.
Jackson was a key player for a team that won 30 games and the Big Ten title in the regular season. He was very productive despite being limited to an average of 22 minutes a game. Michigan State star
already has declared for the draft and hired an agent.