Victor Rudd Declares for NBA Draft

From Greg Auman - News came out last night that sophomore forward Victor Rudd Jr., after just one season as a Bull, will declare for the NBA, but will not hire an agent.

The former Arizona State transfer sat out last year, joining the roster this and helping the Bulls get to the tournament this year for the first time in 20 years. The 6-7 221-pound forward averaged 9.5 points per game (including tournament) making him the top scorer for the Bulls this season (had 5 straight games in double digits).

During the regular season, Rudd averaged 8.7 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game, had 42 assists, 21 steals, and shot just 29% from 3-point range (was 38 out of 129). He is a very talented player that has great range from the 3-point line and has wowed the fans with his acrobatic dunks, but was inconsistent at times during the year.

Rudd's decision is a bit surprising, but it has happened before to USF. Darrell Scott declared after the football season, ended to the shock of many fans. Dominique Jones left early after the 2009-2010 season and even last year Augustus Gilchrist played around with the idea of leaving early, but never declared for the draft.

Rudd will not hire an agent, leaving the door open for him to return after he tests the water of the NBA draft, but if he leaves, it could be a serious blow to the team. The Bulls are already saying goodbye to Gilchrist, Robertson, Anderson, and Damour, a major chunk of leadership and scoring, so losing Rudd who became a go-to scorer in the tournament, could hurt Heath. If he leaves, USF could look for another player to add to this year's recruiting class, but it is a wait and see time now for Rudd and his ultimate decision.