Mike Anderson announces Daniel Gafford will declare for NBA Draft, skip the NIT
Daniel Gafford’s career as a Razorback is officially over.
When Arkansas lost to Florida in the 2019 SEC Tournament, many suspected that may have been Gafford’s final appearance with the team but that was before it was announced the Razorbacks had been selected to compete in the 2019 NIT. With Arkansas still having at least one game remaining this season, it turns out Gafford is already done playing for the team.
Mike Anderson announced the news Monday after declaring Gafford is, in fact, heading to the NBA, as expected.
Gafford made All-SEC Freshman team last season and was named All-SEC First Team following his sophomore season with the Razorbacks.
Video of Anderson’s press conference was shared by Andrew Scaglione of News 5 out of Fayetteville:
WATCH: Mike Anderson's full comments on Daniel Gafford declaring for the #NBADraft and skipping the NIT. pic.twitter.com/n9uDW8x7eu
— Andrew Scaglione (@5NEWSAndrew) March 18, 2019
The NIT is good for two things: giving young players who will return tournament experience, and giving seniors who want to go out on a high note a chance to do that. Daniel Gafford is neither, so he should do whatever he thinks is best.
If you aren’t in the NCAA tournament, any basketball after your conference tournament is pretty much just academic. Only if you actually win the whole thing does the result of your games actually matter.
Well, I guess we will see just how bad a team we will have next season.