Ohio State guard Duane Washington Jr. is keeping his name in the NBA draft and won’t return to the Buckeyes for his senior season, he told ESPN on Tuesday.
Over the course of the offseason, there was growing buzz that Washington could ultimately decide to leave Ohio State. He boosted his stock the past couple of weeks, starring at the G League Elite Camp and earning an invite to the NBA draft combine. He generated positive reviews at the combine as well.
A 6-foot-3 shooting guard, Washington averaged 16.4 points and 2.9 assists last season, shooting 37.4% from 3-point range. He performed well down the stretch of the season, scoring 30 points in a late February loss to Michigan, and also going for 32 points in the Big Ten tournament championship game against Illinois.
Washington averaged 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in four Big Ten tournament games, shooting 44.4% from 3.