Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
File this under “Things That Have Been Obvious For Months”: Former UK target Shabazz Muhammad will most likely declare for the NBA draft after one year at UCLA. Shabazz has yet to officially announce his decision, carefully toeing the party line and saying that he’ll wait until his season is over, but his coach is less shy about the reality of the situation. UCLA played their last home game of the season last night, and Bruins coach Ben Howland was pretty blunt about what that meant for his star freshman, saying “that was his last game in Pauley, no doubt about it.” Peter Yoon of ESPNLosAngeles.com has more for you:
Toward the end of the game, fans began chanting “one more year” for Muhammad in hopes of enticing him to come back. Howland, however, isn’t getting his hopes up. He said he held out hope that both Kevin Love and Jrue Holiday would return for a second season, but both players left after their freshman years.
Muhammad will do the same, according to Howland.
“I’m very much a realist now,” Howland said. “I knew going into this deal that this was a one-year deal, and it should be. He’s a lottery pick. He’s a top-five pick. When you have that going for you, it is absolutely the right thing.”
Pat Forde has yet to weigh in on Howland’s quotes, but one imagines he’s thinking something witty and hilarious about Shabazz having money to buy more designer label backpacks. Just kidding. It won’t be witty or hilarious.
Now that Shabazz’s one and done-ness is a foregone conclusion, expect the early entry speculation to heat up surrounding other super frosh such as Marcus Smart, Ben McLemore, Glenn Robinson, Anthony Bennett, and of course, Nerlens Noel.
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March 3rd, 2013 at 5:44 pm
He looks no younger than 40 years old.
March 3rd, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Shabazz will be a flop in the NBA, I would not draft him!
March 3rd, 2013 at 6:36 pm
He has fallen to the 8th spot in the draft. He’s also had pink eye for the past 2 weeks; someone farted on his pillow.
March 3rd, 2013 at 6:41 pm
When Ben Howland says that he knew going into this “deal”, Shabazz would be one and done….what exactly does he mean? The deal where UCLA gives Shabazz money for him to go to UCLA or what?
March 3rd, 2013 at 7:04 pm
UCLA didn’t give them money it was Adidas, they paid his father to make him go to UCLA. He wanted to come to UK, why do you think he looks so miserable there. Shabazz will be a good NBA player, he has a high basketball IQ. He may not be the most athletic player, but he is smart and crafty. He hates college, he is like Archie. Archie’s game isn’t meant for the college game that’s why he will be a lot better in the NBA and that’s why Scouts still have him in the lottery.
March 3rd, 2013 at 7:04 pm
Really?
Shocked.
March 3rd, 2013 at 7:28 pm
Anyone else think that if he came to UK he may have been the number one pick? I think that should be something Wiggins should think about. Remember Muhammad suppose to have been a stud, a cannot miss, now he isn’t projected to be top 5.
March 3rd, 2013 at 7:30 pm
I hope with his NBA money he can buy some Proactiv.
And, I’m glad he didn’t come to UK. I’ve watched him a good bit and he is THE most selfish player I’ve seen in a long time. He absolutely pouts when he doesn’t get the ball.