Kansas Jayhawks freshman guard Ben McLemore, who helped his team get to the Sweet 16 this past year, and Indiana junior guard Victor Oldadipo, who helped the Hoosiers reach the Sweet 16 also, have declared for the NBA draft.
McLemore is projected to be the top pick in the 2013 draft, ascending to that perch after a torn ACL devastated Kentucky center Nerlens Noel during the regular season. At six feet, five inches and 195 pounds, McLemore has ideal size for an NBA off-guard, and stellar stats to back up his measurable.
In his lone season at Kansas, McLemore averaged 15.9 points per game, 5.2 rebounds and two assists. He shot 49.5 percent from the field for the season and knocked down 42 percent of his 3-pointers. McLemore had his struggles in the NCAA tournament, including an 0-for-9, two-point performance in the round of 32 against the North Carolina Tar Heels. He rebounded with a 20-point showing in the Sweet 16 against the Michigan Wolverines, but was outgunned by their quartet of Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary.
Oladipo had a breakout season in his junior year for the Hoosiers, scoring 13.6 points per game to go with 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Unlike McLemore, Oladipo took time to explode, but after his fine season he's now expected to be taken inside the top six picks.
His play elevated in the NCAA tournament, with his points per game going up to 14.3 points per game through the Sweet 16. He sank a crucial 3-pointer in the round of 32 that helped Indiana survive a tough test from the Temple Owls, and was the only Hoosier to play well in a Sweet 16 defeat at the hands of the Syracuse Orange.
Russ Smith of the champion Louisville Cardinals also announced his intentions of entering the draft as did Providence forward Ricky Ledo.
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