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Florida forward Alex Fudge declares for 2023 NBA Draft

Alex Weberby: Alex Weber04/17/23Alexhweber
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UAA Photo

In a bit of a surprising turn of events, Florida forward Alex Fudge announced Monday that he is entering the 2023 NBA Draft and will forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility. The sophomore spent one season in Gainesville under Todd Golden after playing for Will Wade at LSU as a freshman.

Now, he’ll head to the pros. He entered the college ranks as a Top 100 recruit and made an appearance on several NBA analysts’ boards early in the season after making the offseason move.

You wouldn’t predict Alex Fudge as an early-entrant NBA Draft player based on his raw numbers. Just 3.3 points and 3.2 rebounds at LSU, then 5.8 points and 4.5 rebounds as a sophomore with UF — numbers that don’t jump off the page whatsoever.

But as always with pro prospects, it’s about potential, and Fudge has plenty. At 6-foot-8 with great athleticism, he’ll get his shot at the professional level.

Regardless, Fudge’s college career has come to a close. Here was his tweet announcing that news:

More on the 2023 NBA Draft

The 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. Round 1 of the draft will be announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, while Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum is expected to handle the second round of picks.

To be eligible for the NBA Draft, players must be at least 19 years in age during the calendar year that the draft is held and at least one NBA season from their high school graduation date, or the date that would have been if they are not graduated. It is not required that player spend that one year playing college basketball, though. Players can play in either college, abroad, or the G League Ignite if they choose so.

While this is a significant change from what the rules once were, players are eligible to enter their names into the NBA Draft pool and explore their options by hiring an agent to go through the process, while still keeping their college eligibility. The deadline to make that move is on April 23 beginning at 11:59 p.m. ET. Players have until June 12 at 5 p.m. ET to withdraw their name from the pool and return to college.

The NBA Draft Lottery will be held on May 16, which is also the start of the NBA Conference Finals.