Memphis forward Precious Achiuwa is entering the NBA draft
With the NBA and NCAA suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is rare to fans to get excited over basketball news these days but that was certainly the case when news broke that Memphis freshman forward Precious Achiuwa would be entering the 2020 NBA draft.
There had been talk that Achiuwa could be back for another season given that his opportunity to play in the March Madness tournament had been cut short due to the pandemic. The superstar put all rumours to bed though when he announced that his career in the NCAA was officially over.
“I’ve decided to declare for the 2020 NBA draft and hire an agent,” Achiuwa told ESPN. “This is the next step in my journey and career as a basketball player. I’m really excited for it.”
The 20-year-old was born in Nigeria before moving to New York in high school, where he began focusing on basketball. He was a McDonald’s All-American before he committed to Memphis where he played his only season of NCAA basketball.
Achiuwa had a spectacular freshman campaign where he helped his team finish with a stellar 21-10 record. He was also named AAC Player of the Year.
“I’d summarize my season as spectacular. Even though a lot of things were thrown at us early and we had a lot of ups and down, we found a way to be successful,” Achiuwa said. “I think I was able to show NBA teams my versatility on defense and that I am able to adjust to whatever role that is given to me and still find a way to be successful. We all had to adjust to different roles because of the uncertainty that was thrown at us early in the season. It was sad the way it ended because of the COVID-19.”
Achiuwa has an impressive 7ft 2ins wingspan and 9ft 1ins standing reach, and is a gifted athlete that any team in the NBA would love to add to their squad.
“Since the season ended I’ve just been at my house working on my body, doing a lot of cardio, making sure I am in shape and ready to go whenever we’re allowed to play basketball again,” Achiuwa said. “I’m just staying prepared and keep my body and mental state in the right place.”
There are still plenty of questions surrounding this year’s NBA draft and how or when it will take place. The NFL recently conducted their draft virtually which could be an option for the NBA as well. Currently, the draft is scheduled to take place on June 25th, but there has been talking about pushing it back to August in order to allow for the pre-draft process to take place. It would also provide more time for the league to try and conclude its season and playoffs if government restrictions are lifted and it becomes safe to resume play.
Expect Achiuwa to be taken quite high in the NBA draft regardless of when it does take place or what the order is. Someone of his size and abilities does not come around very often and teams will be salivating at the chance to bring him in.
