After months of speculation, Australian HS star Dante Exum announced earlier today that he will forgo college and instead will put his name in the 2014 NBA Draft. The 6-6 point guard is projected to be a top-5 draft pick in June. He turned heads at the Nike Hoop Summit and FIBA U19 World Championships, and ever since has been considered the top international prep prospect. More, from ESPN: “Australian phenom Dante Exum has decided to declare for the 2014 NBA draft, his family and agent told ESPN.com on Tuesday. Exum has agreed to hire agents Rob Pelinka and Brandon Rosenthal of Landmark Sports Agency. Pelinka’s clients include Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Andre Iguodala and Andre Drummond. “We are excited to be working with Landmark Sports,” Exum and his parents, Cecil and Desiree, said in a statement to ESPN. “Our family felt The Landmark Team represented our style and manner of treating people, and in doing businesses. We also all shared a common commitment to achieving excellence in all things. The fit is just great and we are really pleased to now begin the work.” Exum and his family met eight different agents in Melbourne during the past month before making their choice Tuesday morning. “We are thrilled and honored to be working with Dante and his family,” Pelinka said in a statement to ESPN. “As the NBA continues to expand its brand around the world, we feel like Dante’s international story comes at a perfect time. We also believe that, with continued hard work and focus, Dante is destined to be a ‘franchise’ point guard in this next generation of great NBA players.” Exum, 18, is widely regarded as a top-five draft pick by NBA scouts and general managers. He is currently ranked No. 4 in ESPN’s Top 100, and is ranked as the No. 1 point guard on ESPN.com’s Big Board.”
