Taylor Hendricks set to become UCF’s first one-and-done, declares for NBA Draft
UCF men’s basketball star Taylor Hendricks declared for the 2023 NBA draft on Wednesday, he told ESPN.
Hendricks, a freshman who quickly rose in projected mock drafts throughout the season, has signed with attorney Raymond Brothers, the president of Roc Nation basketball, the report said.
“I want to thank my mom and brothers Tyler and Jamal,” Hendricks said. “Also, UCF and coach Johnny Dawkins for pushing me to develop my game and help get me where I am now.”
By deciding to forgo his remaining three years of eligibility, Hendricks becomes the first one-and-done NBA draft prospect in UCF’s program history.
The 6-foot-9 forward started all 34 games and led the team in scoring, rebounds and blocks for the Knights (19-15), whose season ended in the second round of the NIT in a loss Sunday at Oregon.
Versatile on both ends of the court, Hendricks was the only player in the country with 60 or more made 3-pointers, 55-plus blocks and at least 35 dunks.
“It really came down just trying to win,” Hendricks said. “Trying to do everything in my skill set to compete every time I stepped on the court, and not going outside of what coach asked me to do. Just playing my role.”
UCF has only had two players drafted in the NBA. Bennie Shaw, a ninth-round pick to Milwaukee, became the first in 1976. Jermaine Taylor, picked in the 2009 second round by Washington, was the other selection.
Hendricks is likely to become the school’s first player to be selected in the NBA’s opening round. ESPN draft insider Jonathan Givony recently projected Hendricks to go No. 14, the last lottery slot, overall to the Atlanta Hawks.
Yahoo Sports projects him to be picked No. 16 by the Golden State Warriors.
A 4-star out of Fort Lauderdale’s Calvary Christian, Hendricks wasn’t even a top 50 recruit in the 2022 cycle. He was ranked as the No. 67 overall prospect in his class, according to the 247Sports Composite ratings that combine rankings listed by major recruiting services.
That didn’t bother Hendricks, who was looking to find a program where he could showcase himself for the next level.
“A big part of that was choosing the right school,” Hendricks said. “A place that would let me grow and give me the opportunity to show my skills and develop.”
As the season went on, it became evident Hendricks had serious pro basketball potential. He was picked for a conference record nine times as the AAC’s freshman of the week.
“He was a joy to coach,” Dawkins said of Hendricks this month. “He’s always first to say, ‘What can I do to help my teammates?’ and that’s rare for a freshman who’s having the type of year he’s had.
“You would think he’d be thinking about more of himself, but he’s always thinking about his teammates and that’s why he’s going to be a great player and win a lot of games because those types of kids usually do.”
Hendricks was a unanimous pick for the conference’s all-freshman squad and earned second-team All-AAC after averaging 15.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks at UCF.
Prior to the June 22 draft in Brooklyn, the draft combine will be held May 15-21 in Chicago. Hendricks maintained it doesn’t matter where he gets drafted.
“I’ll be there for a reason,” he said. “I will make the best of any situation.”
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.
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