Sophomore Huell declares for NBA draft

CORAL GABLES — A little less than two weeks after one of his teammates decided he would test the NBA draft waters, Miami’s Dewan Huell has decided he’d like to do the same.

Huell, a sophomore forward for the Hurricanes, announced via Twitter that was he was declaring for the NBA Draft, but would not hire an agent. That leaves open the possibility he could return to Miami for his junior year.

Late last month, fellow sophomore Bruce Brown — who, with Huell gave Miami one of its most decorated recruiting classes back in 2015 — declared he was doing the same.

“After talking to my coaches and family, I would like to announce that I will be declaring for the 2018 NBA Draft,” Huell wrote, alongside a photo of him in his Hurricanes uniform. “I will not hire an agent so I can keep my eligibility as a college athlete. I would like to thank the man above for this opportunity, Canes fans and all those who supported me through the ups and downs.”

Huell, who at times struggled during his freshman season, had a breakout year for the Hurricanes this year and was one of Miami’s leading scorers, averaging 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He also was tied with Anthony Lawrence for the team lead with 31 blocks.

He entered the year determined to improve on his freshman campaign and added bulk to his now 6-foot-11, 220-pound frame. He became one of the Hurricanes’ vocal and emotional leaders, earning praise from coach Jim Larrañaga earlier this year.

“He is so interested in learning. He wants to do everything we’re trying to teach … He’s one of our cocaptains, and the reason we named him one of the cocaptains is because of his willingness to do what we’re asking him to do,” Larrañaga said. “He really has embraced our philosophy so I want to give him a chance to bloom, to blossom in that regard. And he’s doing it.”

Players have until April 22 to enter their names into the draft and June 11 to withdraw from draft consideration. The draft is June 21.

The website nbadraft.net does not project Huell or Brown to be drafted in either of the first two rounds. The site does project their Miami teammate, freshman guard Lonnie Walker, to be a potential first-round pick.

Walker, who averaged 11.5 points this season, has not yet announced whether he plans to enter the draft or return to school for his sophomore year.

TONY GUTIERREZ/AP Miami forward Dewan Huell has not hired an agent so he can retain his college eligibility.