Canada’s Olivier-Maxence Prosper will keep his name in the 2023 NBA Draft and not return to Marquette, the forward told ESPN on Friday.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reports the Montreal native could sneak into the first round on June 22 after a strong performance at the Draft Combine in Chicago.
“After talking to my family, agents, and evaluating the feedback I’ve gotten after the draft combine and my pro day, I’ve decided to keep my name in,” Prosper said. “Teams say they are really intrigued by me and value my skill set and ability to impact the game on both ends. I’m ready to make that jump and go after this.”
Marquette won the Big East regular-season and conference tournament titles last season with the six-foot-eight Prosper averaging 12.5 points in his third year at the school.
“My game translates really well to the NBA,” Prosper said. “It’s a positionless league, and wings like me who can guard multiple positions, run the floor, finish in transition and make catch-and-shoot threes find ways to make winning plays and impact games. Based on what I’ve been told, there’s no reason I shouldn’t be a first rounder.”