JD Davison makes decision regarding future at Alabama

Alabama star guard JD Davison has declared for the 2022 NBA Draft, he announced via social media Wednesday night. Davidson averaged 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists during his true freshman campaign with the Crimson Tide in 2021.

When ESPN asked if he will be maintaining his NCAA eligibility and not hire an agent, Davison responded that he is “done with college,” according to Jonathan Givony.

“To my teammates: I couldn’t have asked for a better group,” Davison wrote in a statement. “We pushed each other every single day and I’ll forever be grateful for the time we spent together. To Coach Oats, the entire staff, and the Crimson Tide fan base — thank you for believing in me. It was an honor to play in my home state and wear the Crimson. That wouldn’t have been possible without you all having faith in me. Thank you.

“With that said, I’ve decided to pursue my lifelong dream by declaring for the 2022 NBA Draft. I’m grateful to every single coach and teammate who helped me get here, and I’m ready to show the world what I can do at the next level.”

Davison, a former five-star recruit and the No. 1 point guard in the Class of 2021, according to the On3 Consensus, and is expected to be a late first, early second round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Alabama head coach Nate Oats joined the Field of 68 podcast two weeks ago, noting that his “gut feeling” is that freshman would indeed enter the 2022 NBA draft, and that even then Davison was still getting late first-round or early second-round feedback from the league. 

Oats acknowledged that Davison’s freshman season could have been better but said NBA teams are still drafting based on his upside alone, and reiterated that even higher projected picks have holes in their games. Oats said it’s tough to tell a player that if they’re guaranteed first-round money not to take it, so he’s going to suck it up and support whatever is best for Davison, which seems to be the 2022 NBA Draft.