Domantas Sabonis Declares for 2016 NBA Draft: Latest Comments and Reaction

Gonzaga sophomore forward Domantas Sabonis has entered his name in the 2016 NBA draft without hiring an agent yet. Sabonis announced his decision on Thursday, per GoZags.com:

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After a great deal of thought and discussion with family, I have decided to forego my final two years of eligibility and declare for the 2016 NBA Draft. This has been a very difficult decision for me because of the amazing two years I have had at Gonzaga. I want to thank the coaching staff, my teammates, and all of our great fans for making this such an incredible experience for me. Zag Nation welcomed me with open arms and made me feel at home in Spokane and, for that, I could not be more grateful.

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Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com first reported Sabonis' intention to enter the draft.

"He's as impressive of a person and player as I've ever coached," Few said, per Meehan. "Insatiable desire to get better."

Sabonis enjoyed a major jump in production during his second season in Spokane, Washington. He averaged 17.6 points and 11.8 rebounds while shooting 61 percent from the field. He also raised his free-throw percentage around 10 points to 77 percent, which will be key once he arrives at the next level.

The improved numbers were a combination of two factors: increased playing time and more polish at both ends of the floor.

He generated some draft buzz last year before deciding to stay in school. It was undoubtedly the right decision because instead of being buried on an NBA bench somewhere, he made noticeable progress as an all-around prospect.

You could even start to see some of the traits that made his father, Hall of Famer Arvydas Sabonis, so good. His footwork improved, both down low and when driving, and he became more comfortable passing out of the post.

The younger Sabonis is also a fiery competitor. He said that's a comparison people usually make between his dad and himself, per Meehan.

"I love basketball, and it just comes out," Sabonis said. "I get it from my dad I guess. He also had a lot of emotion. People say I remind them of him."

Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress isn't sure about the forward's long-term outlook, but he certainly noticed the competitive nature:

That burning desire to succeed, both on an individual basis and as part of a team, is an overlooked trait that can help a player overcome other limitations.

In the end, Sabonis decided the time was right to make the NBA jump. It's still going to take some time to determine his exact draft stock, but he should go somewhere in the top half of Round 1. He could even crack the top five with strong workouts during the draft process.

Making strides as a post defender is his biggest area for improvement. He averaged less than a block per game in his final college season but still found himself in foul trouble quite a bit. He must make a bigger impact down low on the defensive end without fouling to see consistent minutes at the next level.

He's good enough to become a regular piece of a rotation as a rookie. The number of minutes will depend on where he lands and whether he is making further positive strides defensively.