In four of the last five years, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has had at least one freshman declare for the draft: (2011) Kyrie Irving, (2012) Austin Rivers, (2014) Jabari Parker, (2015) Justise Winslow, Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafur (2015).
Brandon Ingram, the star freshman forward who averaged 17,3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this season, looks to continue the one-and-done trend at Duke and become just the ninth freshman in the program’s storied history to make the jump to the pros. Today [Monday, April 4], he made his declaration for eligibility for the 2016 NBA draft in a letter penned to the Players Tribune.
Via ESPN:
Duke freshman Brandon Ingram announced Monday that he will enter the 2016 NBA draft.
The forward, who averaged 17.3 points per game in his only season for the Blue Devils, made the announcement in a goodbye letter posted on The Players’ Tribune.
“My time is almost over here in Durham. Today as I declare for the NBA draft, I’m both excited and sad about this moment,” he wrote.
“On one hand, one year at Duke isn’t a very long time. I know that. But I’ve done a lot of growing, and growing up, in that time. I know by leaving I’ll miss out on a lot of friendships and opportunities. I’ll really miss all the students who showed me so much love,” he wrote.
To read the letter Ingram wrote, click here.
