A second player from the Florida Gators basketball team has declared his intention to enter the 2024 NBA Draft while maintaining his eligibility to continue playing in college. Will Richard, who started in 35 out of 36 games for the Gators this season, announced his decision to enter the draft but expressed his commitment to returning to the University of Florida if he decides against going pro.
“I’m excited to announce that I will be declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft while keeping my college eligibility intact. Should I decide to return to college, it will be with none other than the University of Florida,” Richard stated in a post on his “X” account.
Richard explained that he aims to pursue his NBA aspirations and will evaluate feedback from NBA teams during the draft process before making a final decision. He concluded his announcement with a shout-out to his alma mater, using the hashtag #GoGators.
During his two-year tenure at Florida, Richard started in 65 of his 69 games and averaged 10.9 points per game. In the previous season, he ranked third on the team in minutes played and fourth in scoring, showcasing his consistency, including a career-best performance in three-point shooting with 70 successful attempts in 2024.
Richard joins fellow guard Walter Clayton Jr. in exploring NBA opportunities while maintaining college eligibility. Clayton Jr. made his intentions known on April 8, expressing gratitude for his time at Florida and his decision to enter the draft while keeping the option to return to the university.
If Richard and Clayton Jr. decide to come back to Florida, they would enter their final year of eligibility.
The deadline for early entrants to withdraw from the NBA Draft is June 16 at 5 p.m., ten days before the draft commences.
