Kentucky’s Montgomery plans to test draft waters
Kansas’ De Sosa to declare if NCAA appeal is rejected
Kentucky freshman forward EJ Montgomery announced Friday morning that he plans to test the NBA waters by entering his name for the draft.
“I have sat down with Coach Cal and my family and decided to take full advantage of the rules that are in place and enter my name in the draft process,” Montgomery posted on his Instagram account. “My goal is to be a firstrounder. If the information I receive supports that, my plan is to stay in the draft and pursue my dreams of playing in the NBA. Thank you BBN for your love and support through this important time in my life.”
Montgomery becomes the fourth Kentucky underclassman this season to announce his decision to enter the draft. He has until May 29 to make a final decision as to whether to stay in or return to Kentucky. New rules allow Montgomery to sign with an NCAA certified agent to help him with his decision.
Tyler Herro and Keldon Johnson also announced decisions earlier this month to “test the waters,” but subsequently in recent days have announced they will stay in the draft regardless and not return to UK.
Montgomery, a 6-10 forward from Fort Pierce, Fla., made 10 starts and played in all 37 games for the Cats, averaging 3.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. By putting his name in, Montgomery can submit paperwork to receive NBA evaluations and participate in the NBA draft combine if invited. De Sosa hopes to return to Kansas University of Kansas men’s basketball forward Silvio De Sousa will declare for the 2019 NBA draft but wants to return to school.
De Sousa, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound sophomore from Angola, who did not play in a game last season and is also suspended through next season by the NCAA, had an appeal filed on his behalf by the university on Thursday.
De Sousa, speaking with his lawyer Friday at a Lawrence hotel, said he would return to Kansas if his appeal is granted and he would pursue a professional career if the appeal is rejected.
In a four-page letter of support filed with the appeal, De Sousa’s attorney Scott Tompsett wrote in part: “Your committee has an opportunity in this case to make a decision that will be life-altering for Silvio.” Tompsett said a decision on the appeal could be made next week.
De Sousa and all players who declare for the draft have until May 29 to withdraw if they wish to return to school.
The NCAA initially ruled on Feb. 1 that De Sousa must sit out the remainder of the 2018-19 basketball season and all of 2019-20 “because his guardian received payment from a university booster and agent and agreed to receive additional funds from the same person.”
In its statement Thursday, KU said it was “challenging the two-season penalty De Sousa received from the NCAA for alleged violations that he was unaware of and from which he did not benefit.”