Sophomore guard Jordan Adams will enter the NBA Draft and leave UCLA, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed. Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report.
Adams, who initially decided to return to UCLA for his junior season in a press release on April 17, reversed his decision. A Los Angeles Times report on April 13 said Adams had submitted paperwork for a draft evaluation to get feedback on where he was estimated to be drafted.
Adams was UCLA’s leading scorer in the 2013-2014 season, averaging 17.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. He was ranked No. 51 on ESPN’s NBA Draft analyst Chad Ford’s Big Board before he initially decided to return.
The Bruins will look to guards Isaac Hamilton and Bryce Alford, who will be sophomores next season, to fill Adams’ shoes in the backcourt. Junior guard Norman Powell has yet to announce whether he will return to UCLA or declare for the draft.
UCLA already lost two key players after sophomore guard/forward Kyle Anderson and freshman guard Zach LaVine declared for the draft at the end of the season. With Adams’ departure and the graduation of redshirt senior forwards Travis and David Wear, Powell could be the Bruins’ only returning starter should he decide to forgo the draft.
Compiled by Kevin Bowman, Bruin Sports senior staff.