Junior guard Jalen Brunson, the consensus NCAA player of the year for national champion Villanova, will enter the 2018 NBA draft.
"After careful consideration and prayer, I have decided to enter the June NBA draft and hire an agent," Brunson wrote in an essay for ESPN.com.
Brunson is the No. 26 pick in Jonathan Givony's most recent ESPN mock draft and is ranked as the No. 36 overall draft prospect. The gifted pick-and-roll point guard, who averaged 18.9 points, 4.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds this season, is adept at shooting off the dribble and playing in the post.
His leadership and toughness has separated him from his peers, league executives told ESPN.
Brunson leaves Villanova as one of the most accomplished college basketball players of the modern era. His résumé includes two NCAA championships, two USA Basketball titles, Big East Player of the Year honors and the Wooden and Naismith National Player of the Year awards in 2018.
Brunson's father, Rick, is an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves and played a decade in the NBA.
Villanova teammate Mikal Bridges declared for the draft on Tuesday.
