Brandon Ashley Declares for 2015 NBA Draft: Latest Details and Reaction

Arizona Wildcats forward Brandon Ashley has decided to forgo his final year of eligibility in Tucson and declare for the 2015 NBA draft.

Ashley broke the news Wednesday on Twitter:

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

A series of posts followed from Ashley's account to further explain his decision:

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[...] I am very proud of my time at Arizona, especially of the success I've had with my Wildcat brothers over the last three years. I want to thank Coach Miller, the coaching staff, the administration, the fans and the city of Tucson for an incredible college experience and unforgettable support. During my time as a Wildcat I have grown both on and off the court, which has made me a stronger athlete and person today. I know this is the right time for me to make the move to the NBA and I will continue to be one of the hardest working guys out there until I fulfill my lifelong dream of playing at the highest level.

"

ESPN's Jeff Goodman added more context:

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After giving it much thought and talking with my mother and coaches I have decided to enter the NBA draft. I am very proud of my time at...

— Brandon Ashley (@_Bash21) April 8, 2015"

There was a chance for Ashley to return to Arizona as a senior and perhaps get the Wildcats over the hump after losing to Wisconsin the past two years in the Elite Eight. He evidently feels good enough about his draft prospects and skills to give the NBA a go.

A foot injury prevented Ashley from competing in Arizona's 2014 NCAA tournament run, but he was in action in this year's Big Dance, where a similar fate befell the Wildcats.

ESPN Insider draft expert Chad Ford projects Ashley to be a second-round pick or to even go undrafted. Rivals.com's Matt Moreno is a bit more optimistic about Ashley's long-term future:

Listed at 6'9" and 230 pounds, Ashley is somewhat slender to be a physical force as an NBA power forward, but he does have exceptional quickness and athleticism to make up for lackluster size.

It's unlikely he will work his way into even the early second-round draft discussion. Plenty of other underclassmen with superior talent can still declare, and Ashley's move to go to the pros is a bit surprising in that context.

The top player to watch from Arizona in terms of the NBA draft is freshman phenom Stanley Johnson, who led the Wildcats with 13.8 points per contest this past season, compared to Ashley's average of 12.2 to go with 5.2 rebounds.