Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

UCLA forward Smith decides to enter NBA draft

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Tuesday, 07 April 2020 08:32

UCLA junior Chris Smith is entering the 2020 NBA draft, he told ESPN on Tuesday.

"I'm 100% committed to the process and am excited to see what the future holds," Smith told ESPN.

Smith, the No. 72 prospect in the ESPN Top 100, is coming off a breakout season, earning Pac-12 Most Improved Player and All-Pac-12 first-team honors.

The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 13.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Bruins, helping his team recover from a poor start to finish the season 12-6 in the Pac-12. UCLA was the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament prior to it being canceled.

Smith enrolled at UCLA as a 17-year-old and is the youngest junior in the ESPN 100; he is younger than most sophomores and even some freshman projected to be drafted, having only turned 20 in late December.

He is intriguing to NBA teams not only due to his age, but also his versatility. He has perimeter skill, making 35% of his 3-pointers this season and 85% of his free throws. Defensively, he was regularly tasked with defending opposing guards, doing a better job of buying into using his tools more consistently as the season moved on under Mick Cronin, one of the reasons UCLA won nine of its last 11 games.

The NBA draft is scheduled for June 25, but following worldwide suspensions of basketball activities during the coronavirus pandemic, NBA front-office executives and others in the industry told ESPN they are bracing for the potential impact of a delayed 2020 draft with a heavily reduced pre-draft process.

A player like Smith would be highly sought for private workouts and interviews, as teams would surely like to get a better handle on the likelihood of him reaching his untapped potential.

The NBA informed teams on Monday that organizations are prohibited from conducting in-person workouts or interviews with draft-eligible players until further notice, according to a memo obtained by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Read 2328 times

Soccer

Everton's fight to stay in the Premier League: 'You take the knocks, but you keep fighting'

Everton's fight to stay in the Premier League: 'You take the knocks, but you keep fighting'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLIVERPOOL, England -- Sylvester Stallone is an Everton supporter an...

Maradona's children want remains in mausoleum

Maradona's children want remains in mausoleum

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsChildren of the late soccer star Diego Maradona have asked a court...

Sources: Man United leading race to sign Olise

Sources: Man United leading race to sign Olise

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsManchester United are considered front-runners to sign Michael Olis...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Toppin, McConnell help Pacers eliminate Bucks

Toppin, McConnell help Pacers eliminate Bucks

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsINDIANAPOLIS -- T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin complemented one anot...

'Frustrating': Lillard laments injuries after loss

'Frustrating': Lillard laments injuries after loss

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsINDIANAPOLIS -- After spending the hours leading up to Game 6 getti...

Baseball

Bally Sports channels pulled off air by Comcast

Bally Sports channels pulled off air by Comcast

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBally Sports channels carried by the distributor Comcast went dark...

Orioles' Bradish gives up 1 run in season debut

Orioles' Bradish gives up 1 run in season debut

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBaltimore Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish was reinstated from the...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated