Seminoles star forward RaiQuan Gray declares for NBA Draft
The Florida State men's basketball team will be without perhaps its top player next season, now that junior forward RaiQuan Gray announced Friday afternoon he is entering his name in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Gray, who was FSU's second-leading scorer and leading rebounder this season, announced his decision on Twitter.
“RaiQuan is going to enjoy a long career as a professional player,” Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton said in a release from the school. “He has grown and matured by leaps and bounds since he arrived at Florida State. I am very proud of him for earning his degree from Florida State in four years and for being a member of NCAA Tournament teams in each of his years on our team.”
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Gray, who was a redshirt junior this past season, has been at Florida State for four years but really emerged as a team leader this spring. He finished the year averaging 11.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, while helping the Seminoles advance to a third consecutive Sweet 16.
Beginning with a 19-point outburst in January against North Carolina, Gray scored in double-figures in 13 of his final 16 games.
“Growing up I never thought I would be in the position that I am today,” Gray said. “Coming from Fort Lauderdale, I never thought that I would play high-level Division-I basketball and graduate with my degree after four years. To the entire coaching staff at FSU, thank you. Thank you to Seminole Nation for a memorable three years. You guys never failed to pack out the Tuck. I’d mostly like to thank my teammates for the unbreakable and inseparable relationships that will last us for the rest of our lives.”
The 6-foot-8, 260-pound junior, who transformed his body during the offseason and was in the best shape of his career, earned third-team All-ACC honors.
Earlier this week, reserve guard Nathanael Jack announced he was entering the transfer portal. Jack averaged 3.6 points and 7.6 minutes per game.
Per NCAA rules, Gray can still pull his name out of the draft by July 19 and come back for next season, but that is not expected. The NBA Draft will be held on July 29.
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