The one-and-done era is back in Westwood.
UCLA men’s basketball freshman guard/forward Peyton Watson announced Tuesday morning that he is officially declaring for the 2022 NBA Draft, a decision posted on social media. Watson said he plans to sign with an agent, concluding his collegiate eligibility after one year in Westwood.
The guard/forward marks the first freshman to declare for the draft in coach Mick Cronin’s tenure with UCLA.
“After talking it over with my family, I have decided to enter the 2022 NBA Draft and hire an agent,” Watson wrote in a statement posted on Twitter and Instagram. “I’m excited for the next chapter and I’m ready to fulfill my lifelong goal of being an NBA player.”
Forever a Bruin💙 pic.twitter.com/GrUCTO7ou5
— pwat✞ (@peytonwatson_) April 12, 2022
The former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American was Cronin’s highest-rated pledge at the time of his commitment and marked the sixth-best recruit in program history, according to 247Sports.
However, Watson played 12.6 minutes a night in his lone season with the blue and gold, finishing with career averages of 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. He scored in double figures three times, including a career-high 19 points in a game against Bellarmine early in the season.
Watson’s time on the court dwindled as the campaign went on, playing a combined 19 minutes across three NCAA Tournament games.
“We are very excited for Peyton,” Cronin said in a statement. “We all know he has tremendous upside as a basketball player, and we were fortunate to have him in Westwood. … He will always be a part of the Bruin family. We look forward to watching him and rooting for him as a professional for many years to come.”
A projected lottery pick before the season, Watson is not currently listed in ESPN’s most recent 2022 NBA Mock Draft.
“My experience at UCLA made me a better person and a better player,” Watson wrote. “Thank you to the UCLA coaching staff and my teammates for helping create memories I will carry with me for a lifetime.”
The Bruins are still waiting on professional decisions from a number of players, including junior guard Johnny Juzang and junior guard/forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.