National Basketball Association

Malik Beasley declares for NBA after one year at Florida State

Published Mar. 21, 2016 9:49 p.m. ET

foxsports

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida State freshman guard Malik Beasley announced Monday night that he will enter the NBA draft.

"The things I have learned and the growth I have realized this season as both a person and player have made me confident that I can take the next step in realizing my dreams to play at the next level," Beasley said in a statement.

The 6-foot-5 Beasley was third among freshmen in scoring in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season, averaging 15.6 points per game.

He was second on the team in scoring behind fellow freshman Dwayne Bacon as both were selected to the conference's all-freshman team.

Beasley was eighth in the conference in free throw percentage (.813) and 10th in field-goal percentage (.471). He scored in double figures in his first 24 games, which was the second-best start in conference history. Georgia Tech's Stephon Marbury has the record at 26.

"Malik is a wonderful young man and we are very happy for him and his family," said coach Leonard Hamilton in a statement.

"He was an outstanding player for our basketball team, is a young man of tremendous character and is an extremely hard worker. We are behind Malik and know he will be successful in everything he does because he is such a quality person both on and off the basketball court."

Beasley is the first player in Florida State history to enter the draft after only one season in school. In 14 seasons under Hamilton, Florida State has produced nine NBA draft picks including three in the first round. Al Thornton was the highest of those picks, going 14th overall to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2007.