Kentucky Wildcats guard Archie Goodwin will declare for the 2013 NBA Draft while fellow freshman Willie Cauley-Stein will return to John Calipari's squad next season, the coach announced on Monday. Freshman swingman Alex Poythress and potential top pick Nerlens Noel have yet to make a decision on their future.
Archie Goodwin to declare for 2013 NBA Draft, Willie Cauley-Stein staying at Kentucky
The Kentucky Wildcats announced that Archie Goodwin will declare for the 2013 NBA Draft while Willie Cauley-Stein will return for his sophomore season.
Goodwin, an All-SEC freshman shooting guard, led the young Wildcats with 14.1 points per game along with 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Most effective as a slasher, he shot 44 percent from the field in his only season in Lexington but only connected on 27 percent of his three-point attempts. The 6’4, 198-pound guard will remain at UK to finish up the semester.
“Although I really wanted Archie to return for his sophomore season, I fully support him choosing to pursue his dreams,” Calipari said in the school’s press release. “He has the drive and desire to be great and I will continue to do everything I can to make sure he succeeds in life both on and off the court.”
Goodwin has not signed with an agent, and he is listed as being selected No. 18 in the upcoming draft, according to Draft Express.
More: A Sea of Blue
Cauley-Stein, a 7’0, 244-pound freshman, will give Calipari a seasoned interior defender next season.
He averaged 8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in his freshman year, and his stock only improved when Noel went down with an ACL injury in the regular season. A raw prospect, Draft Express has Cauley-Stein being selected No. 10 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft.
More from SB Nation:
See More:
