The best kept secret in Syracuse basketball became official Wednesday when sophomore guard Michael Carter-Williams announced he would put his name into the 2013 NBA Draft.
“Michael has informed me of his intention to enter the NBA Draft,” said Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim. “He’s coming off a tremendous season and we appreciate all he’s done for Syracuse basketball. We wish Michael the best of luck as he pursues a pro career.”
Carter-Williams started all 40 games for the Orange this season and finished fifth in assist average (7.3) and fourth in steals average (2.78) among Division I performers. He also averaged 11.9 points per game and a squad-best 35.2 minutes a game.
Carter-Williams probably helped his stock in the NCAA Tournament, going for 24 points in Syracuse’s win over No. 1 Indiana in the East Region semifinals.
DraftExpress.com projects him as the No. 12 pick in the Draft.
“He has really helped himself in the Tournament,” a veteran NBA scout told SNY.tv. “Great size for position, makes teammates better with his penetration and passing, improving his shooting. Very good using length and anticipation for steals. Great upside.”
Carter-Williams’ family home in Hamilton, Mass., also recently burned down, and going to the NBA will help him aid his family going forward.
Carter-Williams’ decision officially means that St. Benedict’s Prep floor general Tyler Ennis will take over the point guard duties when the Orange move to the ACC.
The 6-2 Ennis led his team to the ESPN NHSI championship game on Saturday, where he hit a huge clutch 3-pointer to put St. Ben’s up by one point with 12 seconds left.
“I think he’s going to be pretty good, he’s pretty good,” Boeheim said in the locker room after Syracuse lost to Michigan Saturday in the national semifinals Saturday. “He’s a good player. I think we have a good group coming in. I think we’ll be fine.
“I think we got a really good player sitting out [Michael Gbinije], I think we’ve got some good players coming in, and I think we’ve got some really good players here.
“But next year is next year.”
