USC Trojans freshman Evan Mobley will enter the 2021 NBA draft and forgo his remaining school eligibility by hiring an agent, he introduced Friday.
Mobley took to twitter to announce his intentions by posting a 21-second non-fungible token (NFT) he digitally signed and is auctioning on the OpenSea blockchain-based market — believed to be a primary within the sports activities world.
“I am headed to the league,” Mobley wrote. “This has at all times been my dream and, via this NFT, I am making my announcement that I will formally be turning professional. This proper right here is the brand new “rookie card” – and it is 1-of-1.
“I am unable to thank my followers sufficient. Your help has meant a lot to me. I needed to create this distinctive and significant token for the public sale winner to proceed to be a part of my journey. I will even be offering a signed jersey from my school days, a signed jersey from my first skilled staff in addition to two tickets to a recreation throughout my rookie 12 months + a particular meet and greet after the sport.”
LEAGUE BOUND! I’ve dreamed about turning professional since I used to be a child. Come alongside for the journey: https://t.co/mIpfUaZRy0 #1of1 #NFT pic.twitter.com/nD1uTVkSkv
— Evan Mobley (@evan_mobley7) April 16, 2021
Mobley, the No. 2 prospect within the ESPN 100, was named Pac-12 participant of the 12 months, defensive participant of the 12 months and freshman of the 12 months after averaging 16.Four factors, Eight.7 rebounds, 2.Eight blocks and a pair of.Four assists in 34 minutes per recreation. Mobley is the primary participant in Pac-12 historical past to win all three particular person awards.
Mobley has lengthy been thought-about one of many prime prospects in the highschool recreation, successful gold medals with USA Basketball on the FIBA U17 and U19 World Championships in 2018 and 2019. He nonetheless managed to exceed expectations with the season he had, serving to USC attain the NCAA Match’s Elite Eight, the place they misplaced to No. 1 general seed and then-undefeated Gonzaga.
Regardless of the lessened premium NBA groups have positioned on huge males in recent times, Mobley is taken into account a prototype for what scouts search for in a contemporary huge man. At 7-feet with a 7-foot-Four wingspan, Mobley is an especially cellular and agile huge man who commonly initiated USC’s offense by pushing the ball off the defensive glass and was typically their most dependable passer and choice maker within the half-court. He has gentle contact across the basket, capturing vary that extends past the Three-point line and the power to create his personal offense from the perimeter, expertise that can seemingly be honed into vital weapons as he matures bodily and provides a lot wanted energy to his 215-pound body.
Whereas Mobley’s offensive recreation generates vital long-term intrigue, it is his protection that’s presently his calling card. He anchored of one of many strongest defenses within the school recreation together with his capability to cowl floor seamlessly from the perimeter to the inside and shield the rim with excellent timing and instincts, one of many fundamental causes USC was in a position to attain the Elite Eight by permitting simply 55 factors per recreation in its first three contests.
In most years, Mobley could be thought-about a favourite for the No. 1 choose, however the season that Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham had and his match as a 6-Eight do-it-all level guard might show too troublesome to beat on draft evening, presently scheduled for July 29th.