Video Selden Bids Farewell

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas men’s basketball guard Wayne Selden Jr. has declared for the 2016 NBA Draft and will be leaving KU, Selden and head coach Bill Self announced Tuesday.

“The last three years have been a true blessing to experience as a Jayhawk, an opportunity I am so thankful for,” Selden said. “That being said, I’d like to announce that I will be declaring for the 2016 NBA draft. It has always been our plan that my college experience would be three years. I plan to hire representation in the coming weeks.

“I want to thank the Kansas fans for their support as a Jayhawk over the years. The support is unmatched and has been the driving force in games,” Selden added. “I would like to thank each of my brothers. Together we battled through the tough and celebrated the good. Giving our all for one another. I’d also like to thank Coach Self and the entire Kansas basketball staff. I’ve received three years of meaningful experiences and guidance both on and off the court.”

A three-year starter for Kansas, Selden averaged 13.8 points per game and made a team-high 74 3-pointers in 2015-16. The 6-foot-5 Roxbury, Massachusetts native’s 13.8 points rank seventh in the Big 12 and he also ranks among the league leaders in field goal percentage (10th at 47.4), 3-point field goals made (sixth at 1.9) and 3-point field goal percentage (ninth at 39.2).

“We are all so happy and proud of Wayne for not only how he’s played but for how he’s represented our school over the last three years,” Self said. “After his freshman year and seeing Andrew (Wiggins) and Joel (Embiid) declare after one year, Wayne, his family and our staff spoke that it would probably be after his junior year that the time would be right for him to declare and it has played out to be that way.”

In 2015-16, Selden was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection and one of five finalists for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award presented by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Selden was also named co-MVP of the 2015 Maui Jim Maui Invitational along with teammate Frank Mason III. In leading KU to the Maui title, Selden averaged 19.3 points and made 12 3-pointers in three contests. He would later be named co-Big 12 Player of the Week for his efforts in Hawaii.

Selden posted seven games of 20 or more points this past season, including a career-high 33 points in KU’s win against then-No. 20 Kentucky in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Jan. 30 in Allen Fieldhouse.

Selden was a key player in Team USA’s gold medal run at the World University Games in Gwangju, Korea, in July 2015. The team, consisting of 10 Kansas players and coached by the KU staff, posted an 8-0 record in winning gold. Selden ranked second in the 24-team field in scoring at 19.3 points per game and was named to the five-member World University Games (WUG) First Team. He led the USA team in scoring four times, including a team-high 22 points, along with nine rebounds, in the gold medal double-overtime win against Germany.

“Wayne had a great year for us starting in South Korea by being the best player in the World University Games,” Self said. “And then, of course, being our second-leading scorer and helping lead us throughout a wonderful season here at Kansas. He has shown that he can play at the highest and most elite level as evidenced by some of the performances throughout the year. We wish him nothing but the best and are excited for whatever the future has for him.”

Selden was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention his freshman and sophomore years averaging 9.7 points in 2013-14 and 9.4 in 2014-15. He was also selected to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament team his sophomore season in leading KU to the title game.

While at Kansas, Selden won three Big 12 regular-season titles, one Big 12 Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in 2015-16. Additionally, Selden was part of two undefeated seasons in games played in Allen Fieldhouse going 45-1 in the venue. Selden ranks 37th on the KU career scoring list with 1,202 points. His 162 3-pointers made are 10th all-time in the KU books and his 443 3-pointers attempted are eighth.

WAYNE SELDEN CAREER ACCOLADES

• All-Big 12 (2013-14 Honorable Mention, 2014-15 Honorable Mention, 2015-16 Second Team)

• Maui Invitational co-MVP & All-Tournament Team (2015)

• All-World University Games First Team (2015)

• Big 12 Player of the Week (11/30/15)

• Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team (2015)

• USBWA Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Week (1/13/14)

• Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (1/13/14)

• Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 (2015-16)

• Naismith Trophy Midseason 35 (2015-16)

• Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award Finalist, 1 of 10 (2015-16)

• Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List, 1 of 20 (2015-16)

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