Syracuse forward Jerami Grant to enter NBA Draft

Jerami Grant poses for photos at Media Day
Grant will enter the 2014 NBA Draft

Syracuse forward Jerami Grant will forgo his final two years of eligibility and declare for the 2014 NBA Draft, Grant announced on Monday afternoon.

“After extensive discussions with my family and coaches, I have decided to pursue my dream of playing professional basketball and enter the 2014 NBA Draft,” Grant said in a release. “I am so thankful to coach Boeheim and the rest of the Orange coaching staff for guiding me throughout my college career, and am grateful to my teammates for two incredible seasons. I am excited to start my journey in the NBA, but I also look forward to finishing my college degree. I cannot thank my coaches, teammates and the entire Orange community enough for all of their support.”

Jerami Grant poses for photos at Media Day
Grant will enter the 2014 NBA Draft

Grant averaged 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds in his sophomore season, and was named an Honorable Mention for All-ACC honors. But Grant injured his back toward the end of the season, and scored just four points in Syracuse’s final game against Dayton in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

» Related: Tyler Ennis hasn’t hired an agent, yet

“We’d like to thank Jerami for his tremendous contribution to Syracuse Basketball over the last two years,” Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said. “We wish him well in all of his future endeavors.”

Grant is projected as a mid-to-late round pick on several mock drafts. NBADraft.net has Grant going to the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 13th overall pick. Grant is the second underclassmen to leave Syracuse, joining freshman guard Tyler Ennis, who declared for the draft on March 27.

Syracuse also loses senior front line players CJ Fair and Baye Moussa Keita.

This story was first reported by Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated.

For more Syracuse coverage, Like our Facebook page and follow us @TheJuiceOnline.

Avatar photo
About Wes Cheng 2907 Articles
Wes has worked for Rivals.com covering the New York Knicks, as well as for Scout.com covering Syracuse athletics. Wes has also been a contributing writer for the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), for SportsNet New York (SNY) as a news desk writer covering all of New York professional sports, and reported on the NBA and MLB for the New York Sportscene. A native of Long Island, New York, Wes graduated from Syracuse University in 2005 with a degree in journalism. Contact him at wes[at]sujuiceonline.com.