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KU's Andrew Wiggins Goes Pro

Courtesy: KU Athletics

University of Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins announced Monday he’s declaring for the NBA draft.

The 6' 8'' player was the top high school recruit in 2013 - and this season Wiggins scored 597 points, more than any freshman in KU's history, including a high of 29 points in one game.

The draft takes place in June – and Wiggins is expected to be a first-round draft selection, if not the first. He says that’s where he wants to be.

"You know, you want to be chosen first," says Wiggins. "You know, you want people to label you as the best player. That’s more on the comparative side."

Men's basketball coach Bill Self says he supports Wiggins' decision, and that he's ready to take the next step. "I think his talent is unbelievable. I think he's just scratching the surface," says Self.

"If he was my son, I would tell him that he's made the right decision. It's time," he added. 

Andrew Wiggins is the fourth player in Self's tenure at KU to enter the NBA draft after only one year with the team.

Kansas City is known for its style of jazz, influenced by the blues, as the home of Walt Disney’s first animation studio and the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. As one of KCUR’s arts reporters, I want people here to know a wide range of arts and culture stories from across the metropolitan area. I take listeners behind the scenes and introduce them to emerging artists and organizations, as well as keep up with established institutions. Send me an email at lauras@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @lauraspencer.
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