Wade Baldwin IV Declares for 2016 NBA Draft: Latest Comments and Reaction

The Vanderbilt Commodores reached the NCAA tournament in 2016 for the first time since 2012, but repeating the feat next season became more difficult on Tuesday when Wade Baldwin IV decided to pursue his professional dreams.

According to the team’s official website, Baldwin “informed the Vanderbilt Athletics Administration that he has opted to [forgo] his final two years of eligibility and enter the NBA draft.”

Baldwin reflected on his decision process, per Vanderbilt’s website:

"

After careful consideration and discussion of my options with my family and coaches, and soul-searching within myself, I have decided to part ways with one of the finest institutions in the world, a legendary gymnasium, a great group of teammates, and my dedicated coaching staff, and officially declare for the 2016 NBA Draft.

"

Baldwin’s choice to enter the draft comes after two impressive seasons with Vanderbilt. He was part of the All-SEC Freshman Team in 2014-15 and a member of the second-team All-SEC in 2015-16.

Vanderbilt’s website also noted Baldwin ranks second in school history with a 4.81 assist-per-game average in his career, behind only Jan van Breda Kolff. In addition to the assist totals, Baldwin was the Commodores’ leading scorer this season at 14.1 points per game.

Overall, his scoring and assist numbers took an impressive jump in his sophomore season, which is one reason Vanderbilt reached the Big Dance:

Season	Minutes	Points	Assists	Rebounds	Steals	Field-Goal Percentage	Three-Point Percentage
2014-15	28.8	9.4	4.4	4.1	1.4	43.9	43.9
2015-16	30.4	14.1	5.2	4	1.2	42.7	40.6

Unfortunately for the Commodores, Baldwin struggled in Vanderbilt’s 70-50 loss to Wichita State in the NCAA tournament with only nine points on 3-of-9 shooting from the field. He also had issues against Kentucky during a Jan. 23 loss. DraftExpress broke down his performance in the Wildcats contest:

However, he scored in double figures 26 times this season and helped carry the offense alongside big man Damian Jones.

The 6’3” guard can serve as a versatile option who either handles the ball and directs the offense or spots up on the wing and shoots from deep. That skill set will help him compete for playing time right away at the NBA level.

The loss of Baldwin is yet another reason the Vanderbilt program will be entering a reset season in 2016-17. Former head coach Kevin Stallings took the Pittsburgh job this offseason, and Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com reported the school agreed to a six-year deal with former Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew to take his place.

Baldwin’s decision to enter the NBA draft leaves Drew without the team’s leading scorer from 2015-16. What’s more, second-leading scorer Jones will likely be gone as well considering Adam Sparks of the Tennessean reported in October 2015 the big man would enter the 2016 draft.

As for Baldwin’s pro prospects, DraftExpress projected him as the No. 16 overall pick to the Boston Celtics in its March 27 update. Baldwin already has first-round billing, and he will have the opportunity to bolster his stock even more at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago in May and in individual workouts before June's draft.

Given Baldwin’s ability to lead an offense by scoring or distributing, Vanderbilt’s loss will be the NBA’s gain next season.