University of Texas freshman center Mo Bamba announced he will declare for the NBA Draft, according to ESPN's Jeff Goodman.
A legitimate 7-footer with a monstrous 7-foot-9 wingspan, Bamba is expected to be one of the most-coveted players in the draft, expected to land within the top-five picks in this year's draft. Bamba finished his career in Texas after a 13-point, 14-rebound performance in an overtime loss to Nevada in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last week.
“After an incredibly rewarding year at the University of Texas, I will not be returning to school as I will be entering the NBA Draft,” Bamba said in a statement, per Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman.
Bamba averaged a double-double of 12.9 points and 10.5 rebounds during his lone season as a Longhorn, proving to be the second-best shot-blocking talent in the nation with a whopping 3.7 blocks per game, setting a new Big 12 and freshman record with 111 total blocks this season.
A Harlem native, Bamba could likely be the first big man taken off the board, despite his lanky frame for a center.
The young prospect is light on his feet, an excellent rim runner with above-average athletic ability, which should prove wonders for his stock as the NBA evolves into a faster-paced game with the likes of Andre Drummond, DeAndre Jordan, and Clint Capela excelling as rim-running bigs that function as lob targets in the pick-and-roll game.
Follow Us
Subscribe