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| NCAA (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--A familiar name made it to the list of the early-entry applicants for the 2016 NBA Draft at the Madison Square Garden in New York on June 24 (Philippine Time).
Cedric Happi, who once starred for EAC in the NCAA, joined consensus number one pick Ben Simmons among the draft candidates who are part of the early-entry list unveiled by the league on Wednesday (Philippine Time).
Happi, who transferred to US NCAA Division 2 school Virginia Union right after suiting up for EAC in the 2014 Philippine NCAA season, declared for the NBA Draft after finishing his junior year with the said university. He forwent his supposed senior year this past season but opted not to join the 2015 draft.
NBA legends Ben Wallace and Charles Oakley were among the notable alumni of Virginia Union.
Led by Happi, the Generals became formidable Final Four contenders in 2012 and 2013, bucking a sluggish first round to go hot in the second only to miss the cut a few days before the end of the eliminations.
Also joining in the draft among former international student-athletes who played in the Philippines was Ingrid Sewa, who finished his sophomore year at Arizona Central College following a one-and-done season with Adamson in 2013.
Also joining in the draft among former international student-athletes who played in the Philippines was Ingrid Sewa, who finished his sophomore year at Arizona Central College following a one-and-done season with Adamson in 2013.
Meanwhile, Simmons opted to forgo his last three years with LSU and declared for the NBA Draft as expected.
On the other hand, Domantas Sabonis, the son of NBA legend Arvydas, also declared for the draft following two seasons with Gonzaga.
Meanwhile, only junior Kris Jenkins declared for the draft among the underclassmen of newly-crowned US NCAA Division 1 champs Villanova.
Also, Zhou Qi, the towering center of the Chinese national team that won the FIBA Asia Championship against Gilas Pilipinas in the final last October, also made the early-entry list as an international player.
All the early-entry applicants have until June 14 (Philippine Time) to decide if they want to push through with the draft declaration or withdraw it, but for the part of Sabonis, Jenkins, Simmons, Sewa, and Happi among the other college early-entries, they have until May 26 (Philippine Time) to decide if they want go back to their respective colleges and play at least one more year there.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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