Not surprisingly, the Kentucky Wildcats are losing another star player to the NBA Draft.
Sophomore point guard Tyler Ulis has decided to join teammates Jamal Murray and Skal Labissiere, declaring his intentions to play at the next level. He has also signed an agent, meaning he can't withdraw from the draft to return to Kentucky.
"I’m ready to take on the challenge of playing at the next level and have declared for the NBA Draft," Ulis said. “To all the fans, thank you for supporting me and embracing me from the moment I stepped on the floor. Your enthusiasm and spirit carried me over the last two seasons and you all make it even harder for me to leave.”
Ulis won both SEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors, and at just 5'9", became the shortest player to be a consensus All-American since 1958. He averaged 17.3 points and 7.0 assists per game.
“I’ve coached a lot of great leaders and great point guards in all my years of coaching," Wildcats head coach John Calipari said ins a statement. "Tyler Ulis is the best floor general that I’ve ever coached.
'What I loved is he grew into that position. You couldn’t speed him up and you couldn’t slow him down unless he wanted to do one of those things. He coached the team this season as much as I did, and I’m proud to say that... I’m going to miss him dearly because now it appears that all the coaching will fall back on my lap.”
Despite his size, Ulis is projected to be a late lottery pick due to his outstanding quickness, court vision and defensive ability.
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