Oregon Basketball: Kenny Wooten Leaves Ducks For NBA
It appears the Oregon Ducks will lose another key player with experience for next season as Kelly Wooten has decided to head to the NBA Draft.
As it stands, seven players are leaving Oregon. While youth helped lead the way to the NCAA Tournament last year, the same will be said about the upcoming season. Payton Pritchard is likely the lone returning regular starter with postseason experience.
While Head Coach Dana Altman has some big-time recruits coming in to help, having Wooten for a third season would have certainly helped the learning curve. Last season was rough with a high ceiling for Bol Bol, who played in just nine games for Oregon. He did average a double-double in each and will likely be a high NBA Draft pick.
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While Wooten did not receive an NBA Combine Invite, he did workout with the G League Elite Camp where he had some solid results, but according to some lacked consistency. However, that is not deterring Wooten from pursuing his NBA Dream after just two seasons at the College level.
Wooten took to Instagram over the weekend to share the news that he would not be returning to play for Dana Altman and the Oregon Ducks .
It is a rebuilding offseason for Altman with the departures of Miles Norris and Victor Bailey Jr. to transfers along with Ehab Amin and Paul White graduating and Bol Bol and Louis King likely headed to the NBA, or more likely the G-League before a call-up next season.
Payton Pritchard has not yet announced if he is remaining with the Ducks for his Senior season. He has until May 29th to make the decision. Whether he stays or goes one thing is clear, it will be a very new look Oregon Men’s Basketball team next season.
Kenny Wooten impressed on Defense early in the year and in the NCAA Tournament this past season averaging 6 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks.