Ray Spalding hiring agent, will stay in 2018 NBA draft

Best of luck to the big guy.

Ray Spalding put any debate about his future to bed on Tuesday morning: The versatile big man has played his last game as a Louisville Cardinal.

Spalding announced on Instagram that he is hiring an agent and leaving his name in the 2018 NBA draft.

The Trinity High School product had a breakout junior season in 2017-18, averaging 12.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. He earned honorable mention All-ACC honors for his efforts.

Obviously this is a huge blow to Louisville’s chances of starting the Chris Mack era off with a bang, but it’s hard to fault Ray for making the leap now. Even if he doesn’t make it in the NBA, he stands to spend the next year making a healthy living playing a game. That’s not a bad deal.

Best of luck to Ray in the months ahead.