D’Angelo Russell was reported to be declaring for the 2015 NBA Draft soon and the Ohio State freshman guard made it official on Wednesday.
Via ESPN:
“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,” Russell told ESPN.com on Wednesday. “I know what I am capable of and the sky’s the limit with effort. I know I have a lot to work on.”
“You never know when this opportunity comes,” he told ESPN.com. “I believe I am ready because my approach was to unpack my bags, get committed to winning and listening to the coaches — as opposed to coming in and saying ‘I am a pro’ and trying to leave. I wasn’t trying to get in and out at Ohio State.”
Russell averaged 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5 assists per game in his freshman season at Ohio State, and his draft stock was strong because of it. His dynamic playmaking and shooting abilities were on full display. In ESPN’s 360-look at NBA Draft prospects where a few insiders analyze the player stock projection, D’Angelo Russell ranks 2nd among players in the top 100. They have Russell’s NBA comparisons as Brandon Knight and Bradley Beal.
NBADraft.net currently has Russell going third overall to the 76ers.
