Citizen Staff Writer
STEVE RIVERA
srivera@tucsoncitizen.com
Arizona guard Nic Wise isn’t being faulted for putting his name in the NBA draft and testing the waters.
“This way (Wise) will be in the radar a little bit more,” said Chris Monter of Monter NBA Draft News. “I definitely don’t think it hurts.”
Monter said Wise isn’t a first-round pick.
“He’ll more than likely come back for one more year, but it doesn’t hurt him to get some feedback and maybe he’ll move up on that (particular team’s) draft board (for the future).”
Wise said Thursday he will declare early for the draft but will not hire an agent, allowing him to return for his senior season if he wishes.
“It’s always been my dream to play in the NBA,” Wise said in statement released by UA, “and I feel like I need to take the next step and get some feedback on my game. This will only help me become a better basketball player.”
Monter said he thought Wise has improved through the years, after having seen him throughout his high school career in Houston.
“He’s worked hard on his body, getting in great shape,” Monter said. “He had a terrific year and he was one of the reasons why they made it to the Sweet 16 . . . might as well get the feedback.
“It’s something he might as well look into. Worst-case scenario he finds out from NBA people he needs to work on this or that – whatever it is.”
Wise, a 5-foot-10, 177-pound junior guard, averaged 15.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in 35 appearances last season. He shot 45.2 percent (177 of 392) from the field, including 41.5 percent (66 of 159) from behind the arc, to go with 84.8 percent (128 of 151) from the free throw line.
He was a second-team all-Pac-10 selection this season and was the Pac-10 player of the week in mid-February.
Wise has until June 15 to withdraw his name from the draft eligible list.
By not signing with an agent and maintaining his coursework, he could return to college without losing eligibility.
Wise is one of 13 Wildcats to declare early for the NBA Draft: Brian Williams (1991), Mike Bibby (1998), Gilbert Arenas (2001), Jason Gardner (2001), Richard Jefferson (2001), Michael Wright (2001), Andre Iguodala (2004), Chris Rodgers (2005), Mustafa Shakur (2006), Marcus Williams (2007), Jerryd Bayless (2008), Chase Budinger (2008 and 2009) and Jordan Hill (2009).
Of that list, only Gardner, Rodgers and Shakur returned to school and completed their eligibility.
The draft is set for June 25 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
UA’s Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill have also declared early for the draft and have hired agents.
KEY DATES
June 15: Date players have to withdraw from draft without losing college eligibility
June 25: NBA Draft in New York