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While UCLA’s search for a new men’s basketball coach is now on its 98th day, there is some more Bruins basketball news this afternoon that’s not related to the coaching search.
Sophomore guard Jaylen Hands announced today on Twitter that he is entering the 2019 NBA Draft. According to Hands, he is hiring an agent and he has “the full intent to stay in” the draft.
Here is his tweet:
To UCLA ... thank you for the best 2 years of my life! Thank you for each and every high and low. Thank you to my family, coaches, teammates, and supporters along the way. I have signed with an agent and will enter the 2019 NBA Draft with the full intent to stay in. #GodsPlan pic.twitter.com/S5X8EVPtaQ
— Jaylen Hands (@JHANDS08) April 7, 2019
Hands started all 33 games for the UCLA Bruins this past season and he averaged 14.2 points per game and 6.1 assists per game. While he was about as accurate as he was last season from three-point range, he improved his shooting from the field a little bit this season from 40.5% to 41.3%.
He did declare for last year’s NBA Draft, only to remove his name on the final day. So, it will be interesting to see what he does this year. It’s worth keeping in mind that just because he’s hired an agent and declared for the draft, he can still withdraw and return to UCLA due to a change that allows players who declare to hire an agent and still return to school
But, based on his tweet, it sounds like, at least at this point, he is planning on keeping his name in this year.
We wish him all the best.
Go Bruins!!!