Seton Hall’s Sandro Mamukelashvili to test NBA Draft waters

Seton Hall junior forward Sandro Mamukelashvili will declare for the NBA Draft and test the waters without hiring an agent, he told NJ Advance Media.

Even if he does hire an agent, he could return to campus for his senior season if he cancels all contracts with the agent.

The 6-foot-11 junior from the Republic of Georgia averaged 11.9 points and 6.0 rebounds for the Pirates this season as they won a share of the Big East regular-season title.

“It’s a great opportunity to see where he is at and where we go from here,” Pirates coach Kevin Willard told NJ Advance Media. “The draft process now helps kids make educated decisions and we are looking forward to going through the process with him.”

The NBA Draft is set for June 25 at Barclays Center, but could be pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic

Mamukelashvili is mentored by fellow Georgian Zaza Pachulia, a former NBA big man who now works for the Golden State Warriors.

“I think he’s very capable,” Pachulia told NJ Advance Media earlier this season. “He fits today’s NBA style where he’s strong, he’s fast and he has an all-around game.”

As for a potential pro future down the road, Pachulia would love to see another his Georgian “little brother” in the league.

“As somebody like myself who knows the NBA and how the game is played, I think I can help him with recommendations,” he said. “But at the end of the day, it’s in his hands how hard he works.”

Seton Hall will lose seniors Myles Powell, Quincy McKnight and Romaro Gill to graduation. Powell, a first-team Associated Press All-American and Naismith Award finalist, is considered by some draft experts a second-round pick. McKnight and Gill were invited to the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational for seniors, but the event was canceled due to the coronavirus.

Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media.

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