UConn's Sanogo declares for NBA draft
UConn star Adama Sanogo has declared for this year's NBA draft, he announced on social media Thursday.
The 6-foot-9 junior is coming off a strong NCAA Tournament showing with the Huskies, averaging 19.7 points, 9.8 boards, and 1.3 assists during the program's run to the title. He was named the Most Outstanding Player and earned a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament team.
Sanogo averaged a Big East-leading 17.2 points and was 15th in the NCAA in effective field-goal percentage (62.7%) this past season. The Mali native also earned his second straight All-Big East first-team nod and was a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, which is given to the top center in college basketball each year.
After failing to register a single 3-pointer in his first two seasons, Sanogo showed some outside range in 2022-23 as a pick-and-pop threat. He drilled 19-of-52 threes for a respectable 36.5% clip from deep.
If Sanogo doesn't return for his senior year, the Huskies will be well-positioned. Sophomore center Donovan Clingan is poised to take on a bigger role, and they've got a talented incoming recruiting class headlined by top-15 prospect Stephon Castle.