PLNU Star to Declare for NBA Draft

Sea Lions forward Daulton Hommes plans to leave school early

Point Loma Nazarene University’s men’s basketball team is working on a lot of firsts this year.

The Sea Lions earned their first top-10 national ranking. They went to their first national championship game. And now they might have their first 1st round NBA Draft pick.

Forward Daulton Hommes is planning to declare for the Draft. The 6-foot-8 inch junior averaged 22 points and six rebounds a game while shooting 47% from 3-point range. He was named the Division II National Player of the Year.

"On behalf of the PLNU Men’s Basketball team and our Athletic Department I want to congratulate Daulton Hommes on a fantastic season and his decision to declare for the 2019 NBA Draft,” said Sea Lions head coach Ryan Looney. “Daulton’s unique combination of size, athleticism and ability to shoot are special. Although, it is Daulton’s character, work ethic and humility that continue to set him apart - whether at Point Loma or in the NBA."

One might be wondering why a kid from small school is leaving early for a professional career. Hommes has long been on the radar of National Basketball Association scouts. His athleticism, height and shooting ability are exactly what the modern NBA game caters to. Several teams have been to his games and practices and reports are they like what they see.

Hommes is going to utilize a relatively new procedure that gives him a way to return to school for his senior season. He’s applied for an evaluation with the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee. Hommes will now receive an evaluation culled from multiple franchises that give him an idea on where (or if) he’ll be selected in the Draft.

Once that is in he will be allowed to hire an agent to help facilitate workouts for teams and, hopefully, an invitation to an NBA Combine event. If he doesn’t like the way things are looking he has the option to withdraw his name before the draft, sever ties with his agent and play for the Sea Lions for one more season.

The Sea Lions have had four players drafted by NBA teams before but it’s been a little while. The list of PLNU alums selected (by year) is:

1954 – Bob Hopkins, 8th round (Minneapolis Lakers)
1958 – Jim Bond, 7th round (Minneapolis Lakers)
1968 – Lloyd Higgins, 8th round (Chicago Bulls)
1968 – Bernie Foster, 15th round (Atlanta Hawks)

The NBA Draft now only has two rounds so only 60 players will be selected. This year’s edition will be held on June 20.

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