Jones, Knight, Liggins enter NBA draft

UK just tweeted that Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight and DeAndre Liggins will enter this year’s NBA Draft.

None has hired an agent nor announced plans to do so, UK said, leaving open the possibility of a return to college.

Liggins,  a member of the Lefty Driesell Defensive All-America Team and a member of the Southeastern Conference All­-Defensive Team, had been encouraged by UK Coach John Calipari to test his NBA stock.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to enter my name into the draft, putting me one step closer to realizing my dream,” Liggins said in a news release. “Growing up in a tough environment in Chicago, it’s a pleasure to have an opportunity to do something special. This is another challenge I’m looking forward to, to have my game evaluated by pro scouts and see how I rank against some of the top players in the world.”

Jones, a 6-8 forward from Portland, Ore., averaged 15.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. He led the SEC in double-doubles (13) and rebounding, ranked sixth in blocks and seventh in scoring.

He was named the SEC Freshman of the Year by league coaches and SEC Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press.

“Coach Cal and the rest of the staff pushed us all year long and helped us develop every part of our game to help prepare us for this point in our lives,” Jones said in the news release. “This will be a great chance for me to measure my skills against some of the best in the country and receive additional information on where I fit into this year’s draft.”

Knight, a 6-3 guard from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., led the team and ranked fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 17.3 points per game. His 4.2 assist average was second in the SEC. He set the UK freshman scoring record, scoring 657 points, and also broke the UK freshman 3-point record with 87 3s.

A Freshman All-American, Knight was also named the NCAA East Regional Most Outstanding Player as well as fifth-team All-America by FoxSports.com.

“Playing in the NBA has always been a dream of mine and this is the next step,” Knight said. “All season long coach has been tutoring me on the fine points of being a point guard, and now I have an opportunity to put my game on display in front of NBA scouts as a result of my hard work.”

The UK release also included words of support from Calipari.

“I support the decision these three have made to take advantage of the process of putting their names in the draft,” Calipari said. “They were a joy to coach this year and I would love the opportunity to continue to coach them again next season.  I will always support my players in weighing their options and doing what is personally best for them and their families.”