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Indiana Basketball: OG Anunoby leaves for the 2017 NBA Draft

By Michael Foy

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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 On Monday, Indiana sophomore OG Anunoby declared for the NBA draft with the intention to sign with an agent, bringing his career to an official close with the Hoosiers.

OG Anunoby appeared in just 16 games this season for the Hoosiers before injuring his knee and bringing his season to an end. In those 16 games, Anunoby averaged 11.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks.

Anunoby had lofty expectations surrounding him after a productive freshman year that he capped off with an impressive defensive display against Kentucky freshman Jamal Murray in the NCAA Tournament, where OG blocked two crucial threes in the final moments of the game.

Aside from his production in limited action, Anunoby brought anticipated excitement due to his physical tools. The sophomore features a 6-foot-8 frame with a reported 7-foot-6 wingspan that had fans salivating to see him progress into a defensive juggernaut.

At times this season, Anunoby looked as advertised, locking down and outshining Kansas’ star freshman Josh Jackson in their matchup.  OG also looked incredibly impressive against North Carolina, where he looked like the best player on the court in Indiana’s win over the eventual national champion.

Unfortunately, his struggle with ankle injuries, as well as a sophomore slump, forced Anunoby to look like, well, a sophomore getting substantial minutes for the first time in his young career.

Overall Anunoby is projected to go between the 15-20 pick range, so you can’t blame the guy for leaving. Regardless, Indiana fans will miss their almost-superstar.

Anunoby was good at times, but his ceiling seemed as high as anyone’s in recent memory. Unfortunately, Indiana fans will always fantasize about what could have been. OG Anunoby will leave Indiana as one of the biggest ‘what ifs’ in program history. Just how Indiana fans will always think ‘what if’ Scott May never broke his arm in 1975, they will think ‘what if’ OG had stayed.

Next: What other Hoosiers declared?

All of the hype and all of the lofty expectations will leave Indiana fans always wondering about what could have been.

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