D'Angelo Russell Declares for 2015 NBA Draft: Latest Details and Reaction

Ohio State freshman sensation D'Angelo Russell announced his intention to forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility and enter the 2015 NBA draft.

ESPN's Paul Biancardi broke the news of Russell's announcement on Wednesday:

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"This was a hard decision because I knew I could come back and play with my teammates who I love and to be coached by Coach Thad Matta again would have been awesome, but at the same time I wanted to pursue my dream of playing in the NBA," Russell told ESPN.com on Wednesday. "I know what I am capable of and the sky's the limit with effort. I know I have a lot to work on."

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Russell was nothing short of outstanding for most of his only season with the Buckeyes. He immediately stepped into a key role and responded by averaging 19 points, nearly six rebounds and five assists while playing 34 minutes per contest.

He showcased almost everything NBA talent evaluators seek in a high draft pick. The Kentucky native can attack the rim or score on the perimeter. He can run an offense or play off the ball. He also doesn't mind fighting post players for rebounds on both ends of the floor.

An unnamed scout voiced his opinion on Russell's ceiling as an NBA player with Sam Amico of Fox Sports:

The one area where he could use some work is on the defensive end. He's active in passing lanes, leading to a fair amount of steals, but getting him to play sound, reliable man defense is still a work in progress. That's especially true if a team eventually asks him to defend an opponent's top scorer.

His college career did come to an end on a low note. He scored just nine points on 3-of-19 shooting in an NCAA tournament loss to Arizona. The Wildcats' steady defense did a great job of taking away his easy looks.

After that defeat, Ari Wasserman of the Northeast Ohio Media Group passed along comments from Russell, who wasn't overly concerned about the decision he faced: "I don't get nervous. I told you that. I don't get nervous about anything. Whatever happens, happens."

Ultimately, unless he was focused on winning a national title, there was little reason for him to continue at the college level. He did more than enough to prove himself as a freshman.

Russell should be a top-five pick when the draft rolls around in late June, possibly sneaking inside the top three depending on how the draft process plays out. The good news for his stock is that it's a class with more depth than top-end talent.

The type of impact he can make as a rookie will obviously depend heavily on where he lands. He's got the talent to make his presence felt on the offensive end right away. A team may rein him in a bit in the early going while it works on his defense, though.

That said, his long-term outlook is very promising. He possesses the size, athleticism and raw talent necessary to have a long NBA career. But, as with most young players, it's going to take some time before he truly reaches his peak.

Even with that being the case, Russell felt ready to make the jump.