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UCLA sophomore Kris Wilkes turning pro

UCLA v Arizona State

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Kris Wilkes #13 of the UCLA Bruins gestures during a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Arizona State Sun Devils at T-Mobile Arena on March 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Sun Devils defeated the Bruins 83-72. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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UCLA sophomore Kris Wilkes is turning pro and hiring an agent, he announced on Twitter on Wednesday.

The Bruins’ leading scorer this past season at 17.4 points per game, Wilkes is a potential first-round NBA draft pick after two solid seasons at UCLA. Although the Bruins missed the NCAA tournament and head coach Steve Alford was fired at mid-season, Wilkes still put up strong numbers as he also averaged 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

“Ever since I was a little kid my dream has been to play in the NBA,” Wilkes said in the tweet. “To everyone at UCLA, especially to my teammates and coaches, I’m incredibly grateful for all your love and support these past two years. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me, and I will forever be a Bruin!”

Wilkes shot 43 percent from the floor and 35 percent from three-point range as a sophomore as the athletic 6-foot-8 wing will be an intriguing long-term prospect. The former McDonald’s All-American was expected to potentially leave UCLA regardless of who they hired as the next head coach as the school still searches for a replacement for Alford.