Mo Bamba has never disguised the fact he would spend one season at Texas and then turn pro.
Coaches knew that when he was being recruited. Everyone, including Texas' Shaka Smart, knew his time in Austin would be short. Bamba relished every minute, though, and is happy to call himself a Longhorn.
Still, the school announced Tuesday that Bamba is leaving and entering the NBA draft.
"After an incredibly rewarding year at the University of Texas, I will not be returning to school as I will be entering the NBA Draft," Bamba said in a statement.
Arizona's DeAndre Ayton is projected as the first overall pick and top center in the draft. NBADraft.net currently has Bamba projected as the fifth overall pick.
The 6-foot-11 star from Harlem, N.Y., averaged 12.9 points and led the Big 12 in rebounds (10.5) and blocks (3.7). He set a new league and school freshman record with 111 blocks for the season.
After the season finale against Nevada in the NCAA Tournament, Bamba pushed his way through reporters and gave Smart a hug. The big man was in tears. "Love you, man. Love you," Smart told him. "It's forever, man."
Smart then pivoted back to reporters and said, "He wanted to come here and be a part of something special. Obviously he wanted to help our team advance further than we did. So he's hurting right now. I'm hurting for him. I didn't want this to be the last time we coached him."
Also on Tuesday, Oklahoma star Trae Young announced he was leaving the Sooners and going pro. He's slotted as the eighth overall pick by NBADraft.net. "I've been preparing most of my life to join the NBA, and that time has come for me now," Young wrote in an essay for ESPN.
