Late on Sunday night, Shams Charania of The Vertical reported that Oregon’s Jordan Bell, one of the breakout stars of the NCAA tournament, had decided to declare for the NBA Draft and sign with an agent.
He’s projected as an early second round pick.
Only Bell says that he has not yet made a decision on his draft status:
Haven't made a decision yet #fakenews https://t.co/lnpTLch8Kq
— Jordan Bell (@1jordanbell) April 17, 2017
I never spoke @ShamsCharania nor has anybody else in my circle so I guess it's a game of he said she said or as he called it "sources"
— Jordan Bell (@1jordanbell) April 17, 2017
Bell averaged 10.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks this season and spent the NCAA tournament looking like the second coming of Ben Wallace with his ability to control the paint. He’s already 22 years old, so it would make sense for him to enter the draft.
It remains to be seen whether or not Charania’s report is accurate.
If Bell does leave, he would be the fourth member of Oregon’s Final Four team to depart the program with years of eligibility remaining. Dillon Brooks and Tyler Dorsey both declared for the NBA Draft, while Casey Benson announced his intention to transfer out of the program.