UPDATE: Dario Saric announced on Saturday that he will not declare for the draft, according to Yugobasket on Twitter (h/t DraftExpress).
Dario Saric to declare for the 2013 NBA Draft, according to report
The 18-year-old Croatian is being viewed by many teams as a “draft-and-stash” player at the end of the first round.
Jim McIsaac
Dario Saric, a 6’10, 225 forward from Croatia, is set to declare for the NBA draft, according to a report from Chad Ford of ESPN. Saric, still only 18 years old, is one of the most highly touted international prospects in this year’s draft crop.
More: 2013 NBA Draft coverage
He plays for Cibona Zagreb in the Croatian league, where he averages 8 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists on 37/30/50 shooting percentages. There are concerns about his unorthodox shooting motion, but his versatility and feel for the game at such a young age have impressed many scouts.
Since Saric is unlikely to come over to the NBA right away, he’s a prime candidate to be taken at the end of the first round, where contending teams without many open roster spots can take him and watch him develop overseas for the next few seasons.
DraftExpress currently has him as the No. 24 pick in the 2013 draft and the second-highest international player on their board, behind only Rudy Gobert of France.
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