Ohio State freshman guard D’Angelo Russell has officially declared for the NBA draft. He was the best player on the Buckeyes, as he led them in many categories. The news was broken earlier today to ESPN, it didn’t come to a surprise for many though.
Russell is a projected top-five draft pick in almost every NBA mock draft. He averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5 assists per game for the Buckeyes. D'Angelo was named 1st Team All-American, 1st Team All-Big Ten, Freshman of the Year in the Big Ten, and was known as one of the best guards in the nation.
His career ended in the Round of 32 against the Arizona Wildcats, where he only had 9 points. His top scoring performance all season, came against Northwestern, against whom he had 33 points.
The Lakers or Knicks would love to have a guy with Russell's scoring ability. But if he slides past the top 5, then it will come as a gigantic surprise to everyone. Russell is a proven scorer who can also throw beautiful passes. Once his defense comes along, he could become a top guard in the NBA.
“This was a hard decision because I knew I could come back and play with my teammates who I love, and to be coached by Coach Thad Matta again would have been awesome, but at the same time I wanted to pursue my dream of playing in the NBA,” said Russell. “I know what I am capable of and the sky’s the limit with effort. I know I have a lot of work to do.”