ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia Tech guard Josh Okogie plans to skip his final two college seasons to enter the NBA draft.
Okogie announced his intention Thursday through the school. He will not hire an agent, leaving open the option of returning to the Yellow Jackets.
The 6-foot-4 Okogie was Georgia Tech’s leading scorer at 18.2 points per game. He became just the sixth player in school history to surpass 1,000 points by the end of his sophomore year.
The deadline to withdraw from the draft is May 30
“After consulting with my family, I have decided to take this step, gather all the information I can and see what is best for me,” Okogie said in a statement. “If it’s in my best interest not to go, then I’ll look forward to being back for my junior year at Georgia Tech.”
Okogie served a six-game suspension at the beginning of the season for accepting benefits in violation of NCAA rules. The school turned itself in to the NCAA last month, saying an internal investigation showed Okogie and teammate Tadric Jackson received apparel, meals and transportation valued at less than $750 and less than $525, respectively, from a person who was not a booster nor employed by Georgia Tech.
Okogie missed the first eight games, needing extra time to recover after injuring a finger in a preseason exhibition. The Yellow Jackets went 4-4 during his absence, including ugly losses to Grambling and Wofford, and finished 13-19, with a 6-12 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference before an opening-round defeat in the league tournament.
Okogie submitted his application to the NBA’s undergraduate advisory committee, which allows him to work out for NBA teams beginning April 24 and attend the draft combine May 16-20 if invited.
“Josh will get the opportunity over the next several weeks to receive all the feedback he needs from NBA people to make a decision on his future,” Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner said.
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