Shocking news this evening from Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski. UNC junior J.P. Tokoto has decided to enter the NBA Draft.
North Carolina Tar Heels junior J.P. Tokoto will enter the 2015 NBA draft, he told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday.
Tokoto, an All-ACC first-team defender for the Tar Heels, forgoes his final year of college eligibility with a clear knowledge of his standing among league executives.
Tokoto, 21, won’t initially sign with an agent, he said, which would give him the freedom to withdraw from the June draft prior to the April 26 early entry deadline. Even so, Tokoto’s intentions are to play in the NBA next season.
“Going in, I know I’m not a first-round pick,” Tokoto told Yahoo Sports. “I know my jumper needs work, and I’m putting in that work now – and will keep doing it. My jumper is something that has me as a second-round pick right now, but I have a mindset of work to improve the form and range of my shot.”
Tokoto, who is 6-foot-6, is considered to be solidly in the second round of the draft, several NBA executives told Yahoo Sports.
This is the "James Michael McAdoo Route." If you read Tokoto's other quotes in the story, this move is about him working on other aspects of his game, something that he probably feels won't happen in another season at UNC. He also may want to move to the next stage of his basketball career.
Tokoto has left open the possibility of a return since he will not be retaining an agent. However, since this announcement is coming from him via Yahoo! Sports and not through UNC, it stands to reason this decision likely won't change.
More on the impact of this decision on the Tar Heels next season.
