St John’s wing LJ Figueroa declares for NBA draft

NEW YORK (AP) — St. John’s wing LJ Figueroa has declared for the NBA draft.

School officials announced Figueroa’s decision Saturday, saying that he hasn’t hired an agent and still has the option to return to school.

Figueroa can return to school for his final season of eligibility if he withdraws from the draft pool by June 3.

“These past two years at St. John’s have presented me with tremendous opportunities for growth both on and off the court,” said Figueroa. “My family, coaches, teammates and my hometown Lawrence, Massachusetts, have helped me develop into the man I am today, and I cannot begin to thank everyone enough. After speaking with my family and coaching staff, I have decided to declare for the 2020 NBA Draft. I intend to keep all of my options open and look forward to the learning experience this process will offer.”

He started 64 of his 66 games for the Red Storm over the past two years and scored 956 points.

“We support LJ’s decision to pursue his lifelong dream,” said St. John’s Head Coach Mike Anderson. “This is an opportunity to gain valuable information by going through the NBA pre-draft process to make the best decision for his future.”