Dion Waiters declared for the NBA Draft on Monday, and will not be returning for his junior season with the Syracuse Orange. The news doesn't come as much surprise, according to the Sean Keeley at Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician. Waiters is widely considered to be a first round talent despite technically never starting a game for the Orange this season. In a statement, Waiters said he had the full support of head coach Jim Boeheim.
"They had my back 100 percent, my family and coach Boeheim," Waiters said. "He said he thought I was ready, and that's all I needed to hear."
Waiters won the Big East's Sixth Man of the Year award while averaging 12.7 points over 24.2 minutes per game. He emerged late in the season, scoring 12, 18 and 13 points in three NCAA Tournament wins before scoring just nine in a loss to Ohio State in the Elite Eight.
For more on Waiters' decision to go pro, be sure to follow the SB Nation blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician.