Duke freshman Brandon Ingram will enter the 2016 NBA draft, he announced in a goodbye letter posted on The Players’ Tribune.
Ingram played at Duke for only one season, averaging 17.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while being named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s freshman of the year. Ingram was also named second-team All-ACC.
“My time is almost over here in Durham. Today as I declare for the NBA draft, I’m both excited and said about this moment,” Ingram wrote. “On one hand, one year at Duke isn’t a very long time. I know that. But I’ve done a lot of growing, and growing up, in that time. I know by leaving I’ll miss out on a lot of friendships and opportunities. I’ll really miss all the students who showed me so much love.”
Ingram is projected by many to go first or second overall in the 2016 NBA draft. In DraftExpress’s latest mock draft, Ingram is selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.
“Brandon Ingram was a special player at Duke this year, and his best basketball is still ahead of him,” coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a press release. “He is a no-maintenance player who loves the game, has a strong desire to get better and competes every time he steps on the floor… We’re proud that he’ll always be a member of the Duke basketball family as he pursues an exciting future in professional basketball. I have absolutely loved coaching Brandon.”
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