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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Kentucky’s Wenyen Gabriel to enter NBA draft, not hiring an agent

In this March 16, 2018, file photo, Kentucky forward Wenyen Gabriel talks to reporters during news conference at the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament in Boise, Idaho. Gabriel will enter the NBA draft pool but not hire an agent, remaining eligible to return for his third season with the Wildcats. Gabriel said in a release Wednesday, April 18, 2018, that after talking with John Calipari and other Kentucky coaches, “They believe it’s in my best interest to see where I stand in the eyes of the NBA.” (Ted S. Warren / Associated Press)
Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky forward Wenyen Gabriel will enter the NBA draft pool but not hire an agent, remaining eligible to return for his third season with the Wildcats.

The 6-foot-9 sophomore averaged nearly 10 points over the final eight games to rank sixth on the team at 6.8 points with 5.4 rebounds per contest. Gabriel said in a release Wednesday that after talking with John Calipari and other Kentucky coaches, “They believe it’s in my best interest to see where I stand in the eyes of the NBA.”

Gabriel is Kentucky’s fifth player to enter the June 21 draft, following freshman teammates Kevin Knox, PJ Washington, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Hamidou Diallo. Knox, Gilgeous-Alexander and Diallo are hiring agents and will not return to school.