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Duke guard Luke Kennard officially enters 2017 NBA Draft

By Trey Daubert

Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Luke Kennard (5) reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Luke Kennard (5) reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Luke Kennard has played his final game for the Duke Blue Devils basketball program. He will enter the 2017 NBA Draft.

Duke guard Luke Kennard has entered the 2017 NBA Draft. The decision to enter the draft means that he will forgo the chance to play two more seasons of college basketball. Gary Parrish of CBS Sports has reported that Kennard will not only test the waters but he will remain in the NBA Draft.

Duke was bounced during the second round of the 2017 NCAA tournament by South Carolina. Kennard didn’t have a great showing at the tournament but has decided to enter the draft anyway. A sophomore from Ohio, Kennard averaged only 9.5 points in two NCAA tournament games including a 1-6 shooting effort against South Carolina’s tough defense.

Kennard did, however, have a strong regular season for Duke in 2016. The 6-foot-6 guard averaged 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game this past year. He could make a living in the NBA as a pure shooter as he put up terrific field goal percentages — shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from deep during his sophomore season.

Kennard, 20, currently slots in at 24th on the latest Big Board at The Step Back. Our latest mock draft here at FanSided had him going No. 20 to the Portland Trail Blazers. NBA teams across the league all covet shooters so he could be a fit for virtually every NBA team. The rest of the draft class does not have a ton of shooting depth so Kennard stands out.

Next: 2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 22: College basketball is over

Kennard joins Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum as potential Duke first-round draft picks. Collegiate teammate Grayson Allen has not made up his mind regarding the NBA Draft. ESPN’s Jeff Goodman has reported that Allen could remain with Duke for another season.