The NBA Draft just got a lot more loaded.
This week, potential lottery picks Aaron Gordon and Nick Johnson of Arizona, Jerami Grant of Syracuse, and Gary Harris of Michigan all made their pledge to the NBA Draft official.
Gordon, the 6-foot-9 freshman, averaged 12.4 point, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game for the Wildcats, and could come off the board as early as eighth, according to DraftExpress.com. He’s the No. 6-rated prospect, according to ESPN.
The senior, Johnson, was named the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year and a second-team All-America. He led the Wildcats in scoring with 16.3 points per game and was widely considered one of the top perimeter defenders in the nation last year. He’s a projected second-round pick, according to both DraftExpress.com and ESPN.
Grant, too, will be heading to the professional ranks, which was first reported by Sports Illustrated. Grant plans to sign with an agent as well.
SOURCE: Syracuse forward Jerami Grant plans to announce he’s declaring for the NBA Draft today.
— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) April 14, 2014
Harvey Grant just confirmed for me his son is leaving Syracuse. Said he plans to sign with an agent.
— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) April 14, 2014
A 6-foot-8, 210-pounder, Grant averaged 12.1 points and 6.8 boards per game as a sophomore with the Orange, despite battling a back injury in February and March. He’s the 18th-ranked player in the class, according to ESPN, and projected to fall 19th overall in the draft, per DraftExpress.com.
Another potential first-rounder, Harris, is another sophomore standout on his way to the pros, per ESPN.
Michigan State sophomore Gary Harris is going to the NBA, sources told ESPN. Official announcement expected soon.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 14, 2014
Harris led the Spartans in scoring at 16.7 points per game and a 35-percent mark from beyond the arc. At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Harris has great athleticism. Harris is the 10th-rated player, according to ESPN, and expected to land 13th, per DraftExpress.net.
