Ivan Rabb: Cal forward declares for NBA draft.
Cal power forward Ivan Rabb announced Wednesday that he will forgo his final two seasons of eligibility in Berkeley and enter the NBA draft, closing the door on a college career that began amid grand expectations that weren’t quite realized.
In a six-paragraph letter addressed to his “Cal Family,” the generally introspective Oakland native reflected on his two years with the Bears.
“While this season didn’t end the way we all had hoped, I have no regrets about returning for a second season this year,” Rabb said. “Both of my years here at Cal were a learning experience.”
The Bishop O’Dowd alum arrived in Berkeley as a top-10 national prospect by ESPN, Rivals and Scout — and the No. 1 recruit in California by all three.
Rabb was considered a likely NBA lottery lock last year after averaging 12.5 points and 8.6 rebounds as a freshman, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors, but decided to play another collegiate season.
Facing consistent doubleand triple-teams this past season, the lanky low-block scorer often made the right play — passing to an open teammate — but in so doing, missed a chance to thrill NBA scouts and likely lowered his draft stock.
In a Chronicle survey of NBA talent evaluators this month, the 6-foot-11, 220-pounder was projected as a middle- to late-first-round pick. A deep run by Cal in the postseason might have helped his draft position, but the Bears failed to make the NCAA Tournament. Rabb then sat out Cal’s NIT game, which the Bears lost to Cal State Bakersfield in embarrassing fashion.
Rabb’s announcement Wednesday was not a surprise, and came one week after coach Cuonzo Martin left Cal to take the top job at Missouri.
“First, I want to thank everybody for their support,” Rabb said in his statement. “Since the day I committed to Cal, the love from Bay Area fans was overwhelming. I could genuinely tell that people really appreciated seeing me come to Cal and succeed and do well. Haas Pavilion will always hold a special place in my heart, and I won’t forget how incredible it felt to be ‘Oakland’s Own’ as I ran onto the court in front of my friends, family and team.”
Rabb, who turned 20 last month, averaged 13.2 points on 54.4 percent shooting, 9.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots in two seasons with the Bears. He closed his career with 29 double-doubles, tied for second with Leon Powe and one shy of Sean Lampley’s school record during the past 20 years. Rabb was one of 10 finalists for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year award and on the watch lists for the Naismith, Wooden and Lute Olsen awards.
Rabb remains deeply loyal to Oakland, where he grew up and averaged 24.5 points, 16.3 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots in leading Bishop O’Dowd High to its first state crown since 1981. In his letter, he restated his promise to finish school and get his degree from Cal.
“I want to thank the fans, my teammates, coaches, professors, the administration and the University for my unbelievable experience here in Berkeley,” Rabb wrote. “I’m very proud of my time as a Golden Bear, and I’m looking forward to the next phase of my basketball career with the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing in the NBA.”
Rusty Simmons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rsimmons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Rusty_SFChron