Georgia forward Nic Claxton declares for 2019 NBA draft

(Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire)

Georgia forward Nic Claxton has declared for the 2019 NBA draft.

The 6-11 sophomore announced his intentions on Friday, and he could be a very intriguing prospect for many teams around the NBA.

New NCAA rules allow players to retain their college eligibility even if they choose to hire an agent during the process, so he could still return to Athens for his junior season.

Claxton averaged 13.0 points and 8.6 rebounds this past season, and his versatile skill set is something that should translate well to the NBA level.

Prior to entering the mix for this year, he was projected as the No. 18 pick in the 2020 draft, according to NBADraft.net.

Of course, Tom Crean and company would likely love to see him come back for another year, as Georgia should be much improved after an 11-21 season.

Crean has compiled one of the nation’s best recruiting classes for 2019, with 5-star shooting guard Anthony Edwards set to become one of the premier players in the SEC.

The Bulldogs will also add a trio of 4-star talents in Christian Brown, Jaykwon Walton, and Toumani Camara.

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