By ADAM ZAGORIA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yale junior wing Miye Oni has declared for the NBA Draft.
“I plan on entering the 2019 draft,” he told ZAGSBLOG in a text message originally reported by ESPN.com. “I did the Undergraduate Advisory Request to legally protect myself and my eligibility, but I have every intention of staying in the draft.
“My teammates and coaching staff at Yale have helped take my game to the next level, and I believe that it is the right time for me to explore my options of playing basketball at the professional level.
“I have made arrangements to complete my degree if I do indeed leave Yale early.”
He told ESPN.com, “I’ll be signing with agent Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports.”
The 6-foot-6 Oni averaged 17.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists and was the Ivy League Player of the Year for Yale. The Bulldogs won the Ivy League Tournament and lost to LSU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
“If Miye gets positive feedback on his draft status he intends to stay in the draft,” Yale assistant Matt Kingsley said. “Miye is a special player. He has all the physical attributes to be a very good NBA player; plus, he understands the game and plays the right way. He will continue to improve which has been something he’s done exceedingly well over his time at Yale.”
MIYE ONI SLAM TO CUT IT TO 6!! pic.twitter.com/WtObvtOOw2
— Basketball Society (@BBallSociety_) March 21, 2019
Miye Oni hits a 3 and cuts the lead in Jacksonville! ?#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/KSmMzyokeD
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 21, 2019
Oni is a projected second-round pick in the NBA Draft per ESPN.com, but some NBA people think he’d be better off staying in college for one more year and playing the point guard position full time.
The Ivy League hasn’t had a player drafted since Jerome Allen out of Penn in 1995.
Miye Oni has struggled today, but he possesses many traits of a two-way NBA wing. On display here is his explosive first step, direct-line drive and finishing ability. #Yale #LSU #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/Vubh0c7j9F
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 21, 2019
Photo: Rivals
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