Hakim Hart, a senior capturing guard for Maryland males’s basketball, introduced Thursday afternoon that he's declaring for the NBA draft whereas retaining his faculty eligibility and getting into his identify within the switch portal.
The 6-foot-8, 206-pound Hart completed this previous season ranked second among the many Terps (22-13) in factors (11.4 per recreation), assists (2.6) and steals (1.2). He was an All-Huge Ten honorable point out, too, and helped the crew advance to the second spherical of the NCAA Event earlier than falling, 73-51, to general No. 1 seed Alabama on Saturday night time in Birmingham, Alabama.
“In the beginning, I wish to thank God for blessing me with the chance to play basketball on the College of Maryland these previous 4 years,” he wrote through Instagram. “To my household, who has supported me all through this journey, thanks for the sacrifices you've made to assist me pursue my dream. To my coaches, teammates, and your complete College of Maryland group, thanks for offering me with the assets, steering, and assist to achieve this level in my profession.
“With that being mentioned, I’m excited to announce that I can be pursuing my lifelong dream and declaring for the 2023 NBA draft whereas sustaining my faculty eligibility and in addition getting into my identify within the switch portal to guarantee I make one of the best resolution for my household,” he concluded.
The switch portal is a database of gamers inquisitive about transferring from their present faculty. Former Maryland and Mount Saint Joseph standout Darryl Morsell made an analogous transfer on the finish of the 2020-21 season earlier than in the end transferring to Marquette for his closing faculty season.
As a result of the 2019-20 season was canceled by the coronavirus pandemic, Hart, who was a freshman on the time, had an additional yr of eligibility. The day earlier than the crew’s NCAA Event first-round recreation in opposition to No. 9 seed West Virginia on Thursday, Hart had expressed his delight at returning to the postseason after being a member of final yr’s squad that stumbled to a 15-17 report.
“It positively means loads,” he mentioned. “Throughout our faculty profession, that is what you attempt to do probably the most. You attempt to win championships. It positively means loads to be right here once more.”
Hart’s announcement follows reviews on Tuesday that redshirt freshman capturing guard Ike Cornish additionally intends to enter the switch portal.
The 6-6, 190-pound Cornish, a Baltimore native who spent two years at Dulaney Excessive earlier than transferring to Legacy Early School in South Carolina, appeared in 20 video games this winter and averaged 1.5 factors and 0.3 rebounds.
The departures of Hart and Cornish would depart the Terps with two open scholarship positions. They're nonetheless ready to listen to from graduate pupil level guard Jahmir Younger and senior small ahead Donta Scott, who may fill these remaining spots.
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