Known for churning out quality NBA talent, Duke University grooms some of the best young players in the nation on their way to the NBA. This year has been no different, as Duke is now on the verge of losing their entire starting five from this past season to the NBA Draft.
Most recently, freshman guard Gary Trent Jr. declared for the 2018 NBA Draft, the team announced on Twitter.
NBA next. Duke forever. Our guy @gtrentjr2 is ready to make a splash at the next level. #TheBrotherhood ?? pic.twitter.com/Trx0AooD92
— Duke Basketball (@DukeMBB) April 7, 2018
Gary Trent Jr. will now join teammates Marvin Bagley III, Trevon Duval, and senior Grayson Allen in the 2018 NBA Draft pool. All four are certainly likely to be selected and big man Wendell Carter is also expected to follow suit and declare for the draft in coming weeks.
However, with another loaded class coming in next season, Duke can afford to lose some of its stars this offseason, though head coach Mike Krzyzewski will have to work with a completely revamped lineup.
Though Bagley is certainly the prize of this year’s Duke draft class, Trent Jr. brings some immense NBA potential of his own to the table.
With an NBA-ready size of 6’6″ from the shooting guard position, Trent Jr. matches up well physically and his elite outside stroke could take him to a whole different level completely. Known as one of the premier snipers in the entire ACC, Trent Jr. scorched the nets to the tune of 40-plus percent from three-point range during his freshman year.
Trent Jr. also posted a video to his Twitter announcing his decision to enter the 2018 NBA Draft and thanked Duke University, his coach, and his teammates.
Just
Be ?????
Great pic.twitter.com/bpmE6xMl7Y— GARY x TRENT x JR ? (@gtrentjr2) April 7, 2018
Trent Jr. averaged 14.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per-game during his solo collegiate season at Duke and is expected to be selected towards the back end or slightly out of the NBA lottery in the middle of this year’s first round.
