Baylor freshman George declares for NBA draft

Baylor freshman Keyonte George declared for the NBA draft and will forgo his remaining college eligibility, he told ESPN's Jonathan Givony on Tuesday.

George is a projected top-10 pick this summer. The No. 6 overall prospect on the ESPN 100 for 2022 was the highest-ranked recruit in Baylor history.

"Playing for (head) coach Scott Drew was a blessing," George told Givony. "He's a coach that not only cares about you as a player but also outside of basketball. He prepared me in many ways, especially focusing on the little things.

"He knew I was talented and could score, but he helped lock in defensively, knowing rotations, where to be. Being at Baylor this past season, I feel like I was able to make a jump on that side of the ball."

George averaged 15.3 points, 4.2 boards, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals over 33 appearances this season. He was sixth in the Big 12 in free-throw attempts (150) and eighth in 3-point field goals (77). He also earned Big 12 Rookie of the Year honors and an All-Big 12 second-team nod.

The 6-foot-4 guard arrived on campus with the reputation of a big-time scorer. He scored a career-high 32 points against West Virginia in January and cracked the 20-point mark on 12 occasions. His shot-creating ability and high defensive effort should translate well at the next level.

However, George was inefficient at times and struggled with his decision-making. He only shot 37.6% from the field and tallied more turnovers (95) than assists (91).