Arizona State freshman F Marcus Bagley declares for NBA Draft

Arizona State freshman forward Marcus Bagley has declared for the NBA Draft, he told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

Bagley told ESPN he is keeping all of his options open and has not yet hired an agent.

Bagley has clear NBA appeal. At 6-foot-8 with a strong upper frame, Bagley’s got quickness as well. His athleticism stood out on the glass for the Sun Devils, where he led the team in rebounding with 6.2 per game.

His number one trait for the pros that was on display the most in Tempe was his jumper, and by default, he was primarily used by Bobby Hurley as a floor spacer.

With ball-heavy guards like Remy Martin, Alonzo Verge and Josh Christopher, Bagley took 6.0 of his 8.8 attempts from three-point range. Using a smooth stroke, Bagley converted on 34.7% of those attempts. Bagley’s 10.8 points per game were fourth on the team.

“This season, like any other season, had its ups and downs but I believe it was very beneficial for me and my game,” Marcus Bagley told ESPN. “I think teams were able to see a little bit of my versatility on both ends of the floor. I stepped out and defended guards but I also was down there being physical with the bigs in the paint.

“And on the offensive end I played out of my position at the 4, but I showed glimpses of what I look like at my natural position at the 2 or 3. I can’t wait to show my entire game to teams.”

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— Marcus Bagley (@bagleymarcus23) April 6, 2021

NBA teams covet modern wings with Bagley’s archetype, as he figures to have appeal as today’s version of a power forward, which is quickly becoming mostly small-ball 4s.

Bagley has been graded in the range of the late first round. The freshman only played in 12 games while he dealt with ankle and calf injuries, and ASU’s tumultuous 11-14 season likely didn’t help his draft stock, either.

Marcus’ brother Marvin was the No. 2 pick overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2018.

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