Florida junior guard Jalen Hudson is weighing a decision whether to put his name in the NBA draft or return for his senior season.
One NBA scout who has watched a handful of Gator games thinks the 6-foot-6 Richmond, Va., native, could get picked in the second round of the draft if he decides to come out.
“He can be an instant offense guy off the bench, similar to what he was for Florida,” said the scout, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “He can shoot and he can create his own shot. In the NBA, there’s value in that.”
Hudson averaged a team-high 15.5 points per game this season, shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from 3-point range. Hudson’s 78 3-pointers were the most for a UF player this season. Hudson also got to the free-throw line a team-high 139 times, though only shot 66.2 percent from the charity stripe.
Hudson came off the bench for the Gators for a stretch but wound up starting 19 of 34 games for UF in 2017-18, including 10 of UF’s last 12 games. Hudson averaged 19.5 ppg in two NCAA Tournament games, including a team-high 23 points in Florida’s 69-66 Round of 32 NCAA Tournament loss to Texas Tech.
The mock NBA draft site NBADraft.net projects Hudson to go late in the second round with the 52nd overall pick to the Chicago Bulls. The Gators haven’t had a player drafted since Erik Murphy was taken in the second round (49th overall) by the Bulls. Brad Beal was UF’s last first round pick, going third overall to the Washington Wizards in 2012.
The scout said Hudson could at least put his name in the draft without an agent and decide whether or not to keep his name in the draft in early June.
“That would be a good experience for him, to see where he stands and see where he needs to improve,” the scout said.
Hope he leaves so it will open up a spot for new blood. Hudson doesn’t play with any fire or attitude. Little quickness and defense and his pro career will be a short one — not much demand in the NBA for guys who average 4 ppg.
Just read that Padgett is out at Louisville and Xavier’s Chris Mack might be the frontrunner for their new coach. If Mack turns it down, would Louisville be stupid enough to look at Mittens White? Keep in mind that they kept the venomous, corrupt AD and Pitino around for years. Oh well, we can fantasize right?
Shorts comments on roster next season:
Okauru — starter, Mittens just has to let him play
Johnson — starter, providing his oversized bed pillow doesn’t cause another concussion
Stone — starter, can make threes but doesn’t show much passion or toughness
Hudson — will have left for the pros
Allen — will come off the bench to start season as head has still not been removed from a**
Gak — knees forever shot, will get meaningless minutes, if that
Hayes — might give decent production giving starters rest
Bassett — starter, even White can’t mess that up, right?
Stokes — will play decent number of minutes providing his weight is under 300
Ballard — starter, if he doesn’t transfer because White screwed him over
Three recruits — wait and see
BF ? it will interesting who returns and who starts.
yours is a SWAG!
my SWAG is OKARU, ALLEN, HUDSON,STONE, HAYES.
BALLARD, BASSETT, JOHNSON, GAK, STOKES, AND RECRUITS OFF THE BENCH.
MAYBE EGBUNU GET EXTENSION TO PLAY A 4TH YR AND COMES BACK LIKE HE PROMISED LAST YEAR. LOL
I DO NOT BUY THAT HE WAS NEVER ABLE TO RETURN BECAUSE OF SWOLLEN KNEE 14 MONTHS AFTER SURGERY. I THINK HE ALWAYS KNEW HE WAS SITTING OUT 2017-18 FOR NBA IN 2018-19.
I WOULD LIKE TO STRIKE HIS NAME FROM ALL UF RECORDS(LIKE HE WAS NEVER AT UF)
DID THAT SEEM BITTER? GOOD, I AM.
WITH HIM THIS COULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST TEAM SINCE NC TEAMS.
At least, you’re humorous.
This team, even with Egbunu, was not better than the Young, Prather, Wilbekin, Yegette team. They would have toyed with White’s meek kittens.
Is it clear if he has a clear path to the first round if he stays? Id love to see him help next years team, and sticking around has worked for a lot of guys at UF over the years, but at this level it becomes a business decision.
Not sure he is NBA caliber at this point. A lot of questions and even the scouts say “could become,” not “will become.” Needs another year and some fire in his play. If on the 2018-19 team, may have some scoring help from the post and No. 4. He may even find a bit more heart to rebound and play defense, maybe even an assist or two.
I really hope he comes back, but a majority of the NBA draft is based on potential, not what a player can do immediately.
If he returns, and the bigs are healthy, this will be a very solid team.
He just announced that he is entering the draft but will not sign with an agent. This leaves the door open to return if the feedback he gets is not sufficiently encouraging. I think he should stay and hope he does.