Highlights:
- Florida guard Tre Mann declares for NBA Draft
- Mann does not intend to return to college and could hire an agent soon
- Mann has averaged 16 points along with 5.6 assists during his sophomore season
Point Guard for Florida, Tre Mann, the program’s best one-on-one playmaker since Jason Williams –more than two decades ago – is leaving school early and turning pro.
Tre is expected to hire an agent and might not return to college as he made his intentions clear. The 6-foot-5 sophomore from Gainesville led the Gators with the average of 16 points a game and 83 assists this season and also was the team’s second-leader rebounder, averaging 5.6 a game.
Tre Mann also shot 40.2% from 3-point range.
Shout out to our guy @tre2mann3! Go chase your dreams, fam! #GatorsAlways pic.twitter.com/Du9iPDfovy
— Florida Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) March 24, 2021
He elevated his play down the stretch as he averaged 20.9 points over the last 7 games for Florida.
His four consecutive 20-plus-point games matched the longest streak by any Florida player over the past 25 years i.e. Nick Calathes and Matt Walsh.
Also Read: Amazing Facts About Basketball
In a statement, Mann said, “I would like to thank Coach White and his staff at the University of Florida for believing in me and helping to shape me into the man and player I am today,” on Wednesday.
Mann added, “Thank you to all my teammates who shared the Gator uniform with me for the last two seasons.
“Thank you to my family for always providing me with love and support. No words can ever describe how grateful I am to you.”
???? pic.twitter.com/QTuOaX7rXm
— Tre Mann (@tre2mann3) March 24, 2021
Tre tested NBA waters soon after his freshman season wherein he averaged 5.3 points off the bench. He ended up returning to Florida and became his team’s best player following Keyontae Johnson’s collapse in early December.
Mike White, Head Coach of Florida Gators revamped his offence following Johnson’s still-unexplained crumple to the court and health condition, switching from a dribble-drive scheme designed to take advantage of Johnson’s slashing strengths to a heavy dose of ball-screen action that proved to be a perfect fit for Mann, said NBA.com
Mann’s quickness, ball skill and range make him difficult, probably even downright impossible to guard. His step-back jumper became a go-to shot late this season.
The NBA scouts could not have missed the still-growing playmaker who looks ready for the next level.
Coach White seemingly saw it coming, too.
Earlier this month, White said, “You want these guys to realize the dream,” and added, “All these guys want to play at the highest level, and if any one of these guys have a realistic shot in the spring and they’re getting positive feedback from the NBA, I’ll be the first one to tell them, ‘Hey, man, if you feel like you get something and we can get something guaranteed, go.’
“I’ll be the first one to open the door for you and, ‘Hey, get out of here.’”
Mann boosted his scoring average to 10.7 points from Year 1 to Year 2, and matched the biggest single-season jump by a Florida player (Joakim Noah) in the last 25 years.
Joakim Noah was the ninth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. Mann is currently the #15 prospect in the ESPN’s draft rankings.