Junior Tennessee forward Grant Williams has officially declared for the 2019 NBA Draft but has said he will keep his options open. He will analyze his standing and consider staying in the draft and returning for his final season with the Volunteers. The forward is projected as a late first-round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
The 2x SEC Player of the Year is set to pursue his NBA dreams!
We are fully and proudly supporting @GrWill2 throughout this process ?? pic.twitter.com/oj0F25nobM
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) April 9, 2019
The Tennesse Volunteer Forward has solid NBA height for the small forward position. He is listed at 6’7″ and checks in around 236 pounds. Tennesse’s star led the way for the Volunteer’s for the past three years and could likely be done with his college basketball career.
Grant Williams with the spin and slam ?pic.twitter.com/PVsvneBrLH
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) March 15, 2018
He had a great junior year averaging 18.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. The forward also shot well from the field at a clip of 56.5 percent. He is also a capable defender averaging 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals per game as a forward.
Grant Williams with a BIG denial at the rim ? pic.twitter.com/48X1nDCKWq
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) March 24, 2019
The upside of returning would be competing for a National Championship with a likely worse roster from last year and being a favorite for National Player of the Year. Going to the NBA as a first-rounder is hard to pass up and improving your stock is never a guarantee.
The forward is likely to get a first-round selection this year and that will probably prove too much to pass up. Grant Williams is projected to go 21st in the fourth edition of the Def Pen 2019 NBA Mock Draft.
