Rutgers junior center Cliff Omoruyi will test the NBA Draft waters while maintaining his collegiate eligibility, he announced on Instagram on Thursday.
Omoruyi has two years of college eligibility remaining. He has until May 31 to pull his name out of the NBA Draft pool if he elects to return to college.
“We are thrilled for Cliff to explore the opportunity of declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft,” head coach Steve Pikiell said in a statement. “Cliff has become the ultimate ambassador for Rutgers on and off the basketball court and we will support him and his family through this exciting journey.”
Omoruyi follows in the footsteps of former teammates like Ron Harper Jr., Caleb McConnell and Geo Baker. All three returned to school after testing the waters initially, although Harper remained in the NBA Draft the second time he tested the waters.
The junior averaged 13.2 points on 50.7% shooting (52.9% on twos, 18.2% on threes, 60.4% on free throws), 9.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 30.3 minutes per game this season. He led the Big Ten in block percentage during conference play (9.4%) and ranked top five in both offensive and defensive rebounding rate.
Omoruyi became the second player in program history to be named to the Associated Press’ All-Big Ten team, earning a second-team selection this past season. He joined Harper, who was also a second-team selection last season. Omoruyi was also named a second-team All-Big Ten selection and a Big Ten All-Defensive Team member by the league’s coaches.
Omoruyi does not currently project as a draft pick.
Here’s what one scout told NJ Advance Media about Omoruyi in February:
“I think right now he is still someone that we discuss and throw the label on as being, if he was around 20 years ago, he is a first round draft pick. There is some development with the skillset and the body is what it is and I say that in a positive tone with how hard he plays, the level of physicality that he brings to the floor and what he does near the basket on both ends of the floor. What he might need is to find the proper home that believes in certain bigs in his mold that also might be willing to play multiple bigs at the same time which might be the new trend that we are moving towards in the league. We would like to see if there is anything in there with the face-up game, the feel and passing skills and if he can continually guard away from the basket. If he can showcase and develop those things in college next year, he might be best coming back. If not, might be more about just betting on himself and believing that he can continue to transform his game as a pro and find a happy spot for himself there.”
If Omoruyi remains in the draft and does not return to school, Rutgers will have one open scholarship entering the 2023-24 season. He would join guards Caleb McConnell (eligibility exhausted) and Jalen Miller (transfer) on the list of players to leave the program this offseason.
Here is Rutgers’ projected roster makeup entering the 2023-24 season if Omoruyi does not return to school (labeled by years of eligibility remaining):
1 year - Paul Mulcahy (G), Aundre Hyatt (G), Cam Spencer (G)
2 years - Dean Reiber (F), Mawot Mag (F), Oskar Palmquist (F).
3 years - Derek Simpson (G), Antwone Woolfolk (F), Antonio Chol (F)
4 years - Gavin Griffiths (F), Baye Ndongo (F), Jamichael Davis (G)
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Guards (4): Paul Mulcahy, Cam Spencer; Derek Simpson; Jamichael Davis.
Wings (5): Aundre Hyatt, Mawot Mag, Oskar Palmquist; Antonio Chol; Gavin Griffiths.
Forwards/Centers (4): Dean Reiber; Antwone Woolfolk; Baye Ndongo.
(NJ Advance Media freelancer Adam Zagoria contributed to this report.)
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Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com.