Vanderbilt’s Simisola Shittu says he’s entering NBA draft

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vanderbilt freshman Simisola Shittu is entering the NBA draft.

Shittu wrote Wednesday on Twitter that “for as long as I can remember, my dream was to someday play in the NBA.” The forward and center said that “now it is time for me to take the next step in that pursuit” while adding that he’d been “blessed beyond words” to play at Vanderbilt.

The 6-foot-10 Shittu is allowed to withdraw from draft consideration by May 29 and maintain NCAA eligibility, but he tweeted that “I fully intend on keeping my name in the draft.”

Shittu was rated as the nation’s No. 11 player in his high school class, according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports.

He averaged 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds this season as Vanderbilt went 9-23 and became the first Southeastern Conference team since 1954 to go winless in league competition.

Vanderbilt fired coach Bryce Drew after the season.