SALT LAKE CITY — Utah junior Kyle Kuzma told ESPN 700’s Bill Riley Tuesday that he has submitted paperwork to test the waters for early entry into the NBA draft.
Kuzma, who averaged 16.9 points and 9.3 rebounds last season and earned first-team, all-conference honors from the Pac-12, could return to the Utes next season as long as he doesn’t hire an agent and withdraws his name from draft consideration.
In the meantime, Kuzma is hopeful to participate in pre-draft camps, individual team workouts and the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, May 9-14.
Kuzma told Riley the decision to test things out “can’t hurt me” and is a “really good thing for guys in his situation.”
The forward added that he expects initial feedback from the NBA by the NCAA Final Four and should know about the combine around April 28. He’s currently wrapping up work on his bachelor’s degree and plans to work out in order to be prepared for the combine or his senior season at Utah.
“I’m just going through the process right now. I don’t have a reason why I want to leave or a reason why I want to stay,” Kuzma explained to Riley. “It’s just feeling things out and going with the flow and trying to decide what’s best for all parties."