Kentucky freshman Brandon Knight said he will remain in the NBA Draft and forgo his final three years of college eligibility.
“It was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up,” Knight said Friday.
Knight’s teammates, freshman Terrence Jones and junior DeAndre Liggins, have until Sunday night to make a decision.
Jones said he planned to announce on Saturday via Twitter.
“I just talked to Terrence Jones about the NBA Draft and he has everything he needs to make an informed decision,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said via Twitter. “He plans to talk it over w/ his family tonight & wants to announce his decision Saturday on his twitter account.”
Liggins is expected this weekend at the NBA combine at the Nets’ facility.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Knight said he made his decision after a combine for league scouts, where he was told he could be among the top 10 selections.
“He’s a great kid,” Calipari said by Twitter. “I’m happy to see @BrandonKnight12 taking the steps to make his dreams come true. We will miss him.”
Knight averaged 17.3 points and 4.2 assists per game during the Wildcats’ run to the Final Four. The player from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said he considered the league’s labor situation while making his decision, but the possibility of being a top-10 pick was too much to pass up.
Knight is the fourth straight Calipari-coached freshman point guard to go to the NBA. Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans at Memphis and John Wall at Kentucky preceded him.
Knight has not yet hired an agent.
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