Talking about Zeke Nnaji: Arizona basketball freshman headed to NBA Draft
Arizona freshman forward Zeke Nnaji, as expected, declared for the NBA Draft on Tuesday.
When reports surfaced Sunday that he was ready to do just that, Steve Rivera and I sat down to talk about the move -- and about the other two freshmen (Nico Mannion, Josh Green) who are expected to turn pro. Watch the video below:
Nnaji had a superb debut season for the Wildcats, but he is considered a fringe first-rounder as he is something of a tweener right now -- not ready to be a stretch four in the NBA.
But now he'll be getting paid while he develops range on his jump shot and works on his ability to beat his man off the dribble. Nothing horribly wrong with that.
In a tweet from Arizona basketball, Sean Miller was quoted as saying, "Zeke Nnaji will go down as one of the most productive freshmen in Arizona Basketball history. His development is a testament to his strong work ethic, impeccable character and raw talent. Zeke is a winner both on and off the court and his future in the NBA is very bright. All of us here at Arizona wish him all the success in the world!
"Personally, I will miss his good natured personality off the court and his competitive fire on it. Those two characteristics are what makes him a special player to coach and I'm thankful I had that opportunity this season."