Huskers' Terran Petteway to declare for NBA Draft

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The exodus from Lincoln continues, but this one wasn't terribly surprising.

Terran Petteway, who's been one of the Big Ten's best players over the past two seasons, will forego his senior season and declare for the NBA Draft, Nebraska announced Thursday.

“I want to start off by thanking the city of Lincoln and state of Nebraska for all of the love and support that you guys have shown me over the last three years,” Petteway said in the announcement. “This is a bittersweet moment for me because Lincoln has become a second home to me, but in the same instance has helped me grow as a man and ballplayer, and I love y’all.”

Petteway spent the past two seasons with the Huskers after transferring in from Texas Tech, starting every game and producing two of the program's top-10 all-time individual scoring campaigns. He led the Big Ten in scoring in 2013-14 with 18.1 points per game and ranked fourth this past season, averaging a slightly better 18.2 points per game. Petteway was twice earned All-Big Ten honors. In 63 games at Nebraska, Petteway scored in double figures in all but four.

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Though this past season was a disappointment for the Huskers, Petteway was instrumental in guiding Nebraska to an NCAA tournament appearance and fourth-place finish in the Big Ten in 2013-14. The invite to the Big Dance was the program's first since 1998.

“I’m happy for Terran and his family,” Nebraska head coach Tim Miles said. “While I had hoped he stayed with us for his senior year, I completely support his decision, and we will help him as much as we can through this process. I believe any team in the NBA or otherwise would love to have Terran on their team.”

While it's a happy day for a young man trying to achieve his dream, it's another blow to the Huskers' future. Petteway is the third player to leave the program this offseason for a reason other than the exhaustion of eligibility, joining Walter Pitchford (foregoing senior season) and Tarin Smith (transferring). Add in five graduating seniors, and the number of players from this past season's team not returning next season is at eight.

As for Petteway's draft hopes, DraftExpress.com currently has him ranked as their 37th-best college junior. He's not currently in the site's latest mock draft.

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