By ADAM ZAGORIA
Alabama’s JD Davison has declared for the NBA Draft and plans to remain in the draft, per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
The 6-foot-3 Davison, who drew comparisons to a young Russell Westbrook before committing to Alabama, averaged 8.5 points 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists in his lone season with the Crimson Tide.
“To Coach Oats, the entire staff, and the Crimson Tide fan base — thank you for believing in me,” Davison said in a statement. “It was an honor to play in my home state and wear the Crimson. That wouldn’t have been possible without you all having faith in me. Thank you. With that said. I’ve decided to pursue my lifelong dream by declaring for the 2022 NBA Draft. I’m grateful to every single coach and teammate who helped me get here, and I’m ready to show the world what I can do at the next level.”
Davison is currently projected as the No. 38 pick in the Draft to the Cavaliers, per ESPN.com.
“When we brought him, the plan was one and done,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said on The Field of 68 podcast. “He’s athletic. He’s on a lot of first-round boards. The feedback we’re getting, he’s still, like, second half of the first round, early second. My gut feeling is he’d probably go, and to be honest with you, a kid like him is gonna get drafted on his upside.
“A lot of people said, ‘Man, JD could really use another year with you.’ Couldn’t they all? But if they’re gonna get drafted and get guaranteed first-round money – if a kid’s gonna get guaranteed first-round money, it’s really hard to tell them to stay. You’re not doing right by the kid. And my thing is, all the way back to high school coach, just do right by the kid and it’ll all work itself out in the end. My gut feeling is he stays in the draft because he has such ridiculous upside. His best basketball is years down the road. He showed he can do enough that he’s going to be drafted, but that’s a family decision. I’m not making the decision for him.”
Photo: via AP
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