WVU's Sagaba Konate declares for NBA Draft

WVU’s all-time leading shot blocker is taking a shot at the NBA.

Junior center Sagaba Konate declared for the NBA Draft, the university announced Monday.

Although Konate plans to sign with an agent, he still would remain eligible to withdraw by May 2019 to return for his senior season under new draft rules instituted this season. Konate declared for the draft last season but did not hire an agent, electing to return to WVU after attending the NBA’s draft combine.

Knee problems limited the 6-foot-8 Konate, a native of Bamako, Mali, to eight games in 2018-19. He averaged 13.6 points and 8 rebounds per game and became the Mountaineers’ career leader in blocks with 191, setting the mark with seven blocks in a Dec. 8 game against Pitt.

“Every kid who plays basketball growing up has a dream of playing in the NBA,” WVU coach Bob Huggins said in a statement. “We wish Sags nothing but the best as he chases that dream.”