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FSU Basketball: Dwayne Bacon Announces Entry Into 2017 NBA Draft

By Jason Parker

Mar 16, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Dwayne Bacon (4) high fives fans after defeating the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Dwayne Bacon (4) high fives fans after defeating the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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FSU basketball lost the first of what could be three early entries into the NBA Draft as sophomore Dwayne Bacon announced he is turing pro.

Last season,the hope for those FSU basketball fans was that then freshman sensation Dwayne Bacon would surprise everyone and return to campus. Indeed, the Lakeland native did just that and helped lead the Seminoles to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in five seasons this past weekend.

This year, there will be no such luck of getting Bacon back for a third year – as Wednesday, the second team All-ACC guard this past season announced on Seminoles.com that he is indeed heading to the NBA Draft and will sign with an agent.

Bacon wrote in part:

"I am and forever will be a Seminole.Last year I made the decision to stay and set specific goals for myself personally to help our team get to the next level. Although the outcome was not as favorable as we had hoped, I am still proud and grateful to have achieved those goals alongside my teammates."

Florida State Seminoles Basketball
Florida State Seminoles Basketball /

Florida State Seminoles Basketball

After a high school prep career that spanned from Central Florida to IMG Academy to a final stop at Oak Hill Academy, the former McDonalds All-American chose FSU basketball over such programs as Oklahoma State and Georgia Tech. As a true freshman, Bacon led the ‘Noles with 15.8 points per game, slightly ahead of Malik Beasley – who was taken in the first round by the Denver Nuggets.

This past season, Bacon was far and away the leading scorer with 17.2 points per game – having over 20 points in nine games this season, including wins over ranked foes Florida and Virginia as well as some of his better shooting percentage games against Temple, Clemson and in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against Florida Gulf Coast.

Several mock drafts have Bacon going in the late first round, while others have him going in the second round. He could be joined by two fellow Seminoles, forward Jonathan Isaac and guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes, in being drafted if they turn pro as well.

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