Kansas junior guard Christian Braun has declared for the 2022 NBA Draft, but will retain his college eligibility while testing the NBA Draft process, he announced Sunday via social media.
Per NCAA rules, student-athletes can participate in the NBA draft process and return to college if withdrawn by June 1. The 2022 NBA Draft will be June 23.
Braun joins senior guard Ochai Agbaji and senior big man David McCormack among players from the national champions to declare for the Draft.
“I could see both Agbaji and Braun as 1st-rounders,” one NBA executive said.
Braun averaged 14.3 points per game which was sixth in the Big 12. He was named to the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region All-Tournament Team and the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team in addition to be selected All-Big 12 Second Team in 2021-22. The Burlington, Kansas, native was second in the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 49.7%, 10th in the free throw percentage (73.9%), sixth in rebounds (6.5) and 14th in assists (2.7).
โWe all believe Christian is a first-round talent,โ KU head coach Bill Self said. โWe think he has a shot to go high in the draft and we are very hopeful that he does. If he doesnโt get the feedback, he wants to keep his amateur eligibility available to him and keep his options open to return to school. I honestly believe if Christian performs like he is capable of performing, heโs a guy who is talented enough that the feedback heโll receive is one that he can be a high draft pick and then it will be Christianโs and his familyโs decision to do whatever they want to do after that.โ
As a junior, Braun posted five double-doubles and he was also named to the ESPN Events Invitational All-Tournament in November. In the 2022 NCAA Tournament, Braun became the 65th player in Kansas history, 20th under Bill Self, to score 1,000 points for his career. He currently ranks 63rd with 1,018 points.
Braun is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree who was nominated for CoSIDA Academic All-America in 2021 and 2022. He was a member of the 2020 Big 12 All-Freshman Team and has twice won Big 12 Player of the Week during his career.
(Release via Kansas)
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