WACO, Texas – Baylor junior forward Jalen Bridges has decided to remove himself from the NBA Draft per Jonathan Givony on Twitter.
This is not yet the win that Scott Drew and the 2023-24 Baylor Men’s Basketball roster were looking for. Bridges has not decided to return to Baylor yet as he is still mulling over options like playing professionally in Australia.
Bridges would be the only returning starter from last year’s tournament team, and he was the most consistent threat down the stretch of Big 12 play for the Bears.
After an outstanding freshman year at West Virginia and a subsequent sophomore slump, Bridges used his one-time transfer waiver to come to Waco and play for Baylor.
Bridges averaged 10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 27.3 minutes per game this past season as he joined the Bears after transferring from West Virginia. He hit 50.6% of his shots from the field, 32.4% from three and 77.8% from the free throw line.
Bridges’ advanced shooting numbers were 57.9% effective field goal percentage and 61.1% true shooting percentage. He earned a 124.9 offensive rating on 17.3% usage rate. Only Adam Flagler had a higher offensive rating last year for Baylor.
He would be projected to be an all-conference-level player for the Bears and move Baylor closer to the top 25 conversation through the offseason. However, the question of returning to Waco still looms large.
In the wake of Adam Flagler’s decision to stay in the NBA Draft, an impact transfer at point guard would still be needed to jump firmly into the top 25.
Bridges still has the opportunity to play alongside an impressive incoming class of players that includes Ja’Kobe Walter, Miro Little and Yves Missi. Walter is a consensus five-star recruit combo guard while Little and Missi are four-stars at point guard and center respectively.
