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Baylor guard LJ Cryer declares for 2023 NBA Draft

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•03/29/23•

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Baylor guard LJ Cryer
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Baylor guard LJ Cryer has declared for the 2023 NBA Draft but will maintain his college eligibility, he announced via Twitter. He was a key part of the Bears’ offensive attack this past season.

Cryer averaged 15 points per game, ranking third on the Baylor roster behind Adam Flagler and Keyonte George, while shooting 45.3% from the field, including 41.5% from three-point territory. His biggest game of the year was the last one when he dropped 30 points — a new career-high — on 13-of-22 shooting as the Bears fell to Creighton in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

This past season was Cryer’s first as a consistent starter. He started all 31 games after largely coming off the bench a year ago when he averaged 13.5 points per game in 19 appearances and three starts as he dealt with multiple foot injuries.

Cryer arrived in Waco as a four-star recruit and the No. 90-ranked recruit in the nation from the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

More on the 2023 NBA Draft

The 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. Round 1 of the draft will be announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, while Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum is expected to handle the second round of picks.

To be eligible for the NBA Draft, players must be at least 19 years in age during the calendar year that the draft is held and at least one NBA season from their high school graduation date, or the date that would have been if they are not graduated. It is not required that player spend that one year playing college basketball, though. Players can play in either college, abroad, or the G League Ignite if they choose so.

While this is a significant change from what the rules once were, players are eligible to enter their names into the NBA Draft pool and explore their options by hiring an agent to go through the process, while still keeping their college eligibility. The deadline to make that move is on April 23 beginning at 11:59 p.m. ET. Players have until June 12 at 5 p.m. ET to withdraw their name from the pool and return to college.

The NBA Draft Lottery will be held on May 16, which is also the start of the NBA Conference Finals.