Wisconsin Badgers' Johnny Davis, No. 9 prospect in ESPN 100, to enter NBA draft

Wisconsin sophomore guard Johnny Davis will enter the 2022 NBA draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility by hiring an agent, he told Malika Andrews on ESPN's NBA Today on Thursday.

«After taking some time off and discussing everything with my family and coaches, I have decided to pursue a lifelong dream by declaring for the NBA draft with the intent of hiring an agent,» Davis said.

Davis, the No. 9 prospect in the ESPN 100, was named Big Ten player of the year and a consensus first-team All-American after averaging 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 34 minutes per game.

«This season was an unbelievable ride,» Davis said. «People didn't expect us to have the season we had, but the players in our locker room and our coaching staff always knew we had the potential to be a special team.

»With so many great teams and players in our league, it was obviously a huge honor to win Big Ten player of the year, but winning the Big Ten regular season title and playing in the NCAA tournament was so much sweeter. I would like to think NBA teams saw a player who is tough, who competes on both ends of the court every single possession and who will do whatever it takes to help my team win. Every time I step on the floor, I want to be the best player."

Davis led Wisconsin to a Big Ten championship, which the Badgers shared with Illinois after losing at home to Nebraska in the final game of the regular season. The Badgers led by 10 points at halftime, but relinquished the lead when Davis went down with an untimely ankle injury, which continued to hamper him in the postseason.

«I wasn't 100%, but I felt confident that If I played, we still had a great chance of winning the Big Ten Conference tournament as well as advancing