Potential 1st-round pick, UVA’s Ryan Dunn, to enter NBA draft

Virginia‘s Ryan Dunn, a possible first-round choose, will enter the 2024 NBA draft, he advised ESPN on Tuesday.

“I had an amazing two years at UVA,” Dunn mentioned. “I’m focused on the next step in my life now. I got really good feedback from the NBA and am ready for the next level. I am all-in.”

Dunn, ranked No. 31 within the ESPN 100 amongst NBA draft prospects, was probably the greatest defenders in school basketball this previous season, averaging 8.1 factors, 6.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals in 27 minutes per sport this season.

Dunn has one of many extra distinctive tales on this draft class, initially committing to Virginia as a walk-on after a late-blooming trajectory. He grew seven inches beginning as a highschool sophomore, sprouting up to 6-foot-8.

He performed solely 13 minutes per sport as a freshman however entered his sophomore season projected as a possible lottery choose due to his defensive versatility and bodily attributes — he has a 7-foot-2 wingspan and excellent athletic potential.

Dunn’s outdoors taking pictures didn’t progress as a lot as some hoped this season — he hit simply 7 of his 35 3-pointers and 53% of his free throw makes an attempt, one thing he says he is aware of can be a significant point of interest shifting ahead throughout the pre-draft course of.

“Confidence-wise, it wasn’t always there for me just letting it go from beyond the arc,” Dunn mentioned. “I’m going to have a whole different mindset with that. A lot of my role was being a rebounder and making plays at the rim, I did that the best I could to try and help my team win.”

Dunn says he’ll be spending the pre-draft course of in California engaged on his taking pictures and making ready for NBA mix exercises, the place he hopes to present new aspects to his offensive repertoire.

“I’m trying to watch as much of the NBA as I can right now, especially players with my body type and frame,” Dunn mentioned. “Herb Jones, OG Anunoby. I want to see how they perform in the playoffs where it’s go time.”

The NBA draft can be held in New York City on June 26-27. The first spherical can be performed on the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, adopted by the second spherical the following day at ESPN’s studio in decrease Manhattan.

Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft knowledgeable and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a personal scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and International groups.