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LOOK: Matthew Mayer announces NBA Draft decision

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•04/22/22•

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Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

Matthew Mayer has made his decision regarding the 2022 NBA Draft.

The Baylor star is declaring for the draft while also maintaining his college eligibility, he announced via Instagram Friday. If he returns to school, Mayer would have one year of eligibility remaining. In his post, he shared a message for Baylor Nation.

“Thank you to everyone at Baylor and the amazing fans for the last four years!” Mayer wrote. “Being a part of a winning culture and a championship team is something that I will never forget and something that’s allowed me to prepare for the next step.

“I’m excited to announce that I’m entering my name into the 2022 NBA Draft, while retaining my college eligibility.”

Mayer was a big part of Baylor’s success the last couple years, including the 2020-21 season when the Bears won the national championship. He became a starter for the 2021-22 campaign, starting all 33 games while averaging 9.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest. His minutes also increased from 15.7 minutes per game in 2020-21 to 22.8 in 2021-22.

Matthew Mayer joins James Akinjo, Kendall Brown in 2022 NBA Draft

Two other Bears declared for the draft earlier this month. James Akinjo and Kendall Brown both announced they’re heading to the pros on March 30, meaning the Bears could be well-represented during June’s draft.

Brown declared first, speaking on Stadium with Shams Charania. He explained why he thinks he’d be a good addition to an NBA team.

“I think my game transfers really well,” Brown told Charania, in part. “I’m a player that’s not very – I don’t take a lot of shots – I can move without the ball very easily. There’s a lot of stars in the NBA so there’s not a lot of shots for everyone. So the more I can move without the ball and get open and take good shots, I think it will help me in the long run.”

That afternoon, Akinjo took to Instagram to share the news of his decision.

“After talking it over with my family, I decided to pursue my dream and enter the NBA draft,” Akinjo said. “Thank you to the Baylor coaching staff for welcoming me into the program, to my teammates for helping me get better every day, and to the Baylor family for your support this year. I plan to hire an agent, but will continue working toward earning a Baylor degree.”