Trayce Jackson-Davis Officially Bids Farewell to Indiana, Enters NBA Draft

First-team All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis officially announced his intentions to enter the 2023 NBA Draft on Tuesday after four seasons at Indiana.

Trayce Jackson-Davis announced Tuesday that he will forgo his fifth year of eligibility and enter the 2023 NBA Draft.

Though this news was widely expected – Jackson-Davis said during the 2022-23 season that it would be his fourth and final year at Indiana – he made it official on Tuesday via Twitter.

Jackson-Davis graduates Indiana as the only player in program history to score 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds. The 6-foot-9 forward from Greenwood, Ind. is the school's all-time leading rebounder, all-time leading shot blocker and No. 3 on the all-time scoring list with 2,258 points, behind Steve Alford (2,438) and Calbert Cheaney (2,613). 

As a senior, Jackson-Davis averaged 20.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.9 blocks on his way to becoming a consensus first-team All-American and winning the Karl Malone Award, given to the nation's top power forward. Jackson-Davis finished his career with four All-Big Ten seasons, two Big Ten All-Defensive team nominations and two years on the All-Big Ten Tournament team. 

Here's Jackson-Davis' full message.

"First and foremost I'd like to thank God for giving me the ability to play the game of basketball," Jackson-Davis said via Twitter. "I'd like to thank my mother and father for always looking out for me and making sure that I'm always on the right track. To Ari and Tay, I love you and I always got your guys back. Also, a huge thanks to Coach Woodson and Coach Miller for allowing me to leave my small mark on this amazing program. To every trainer that I had the pleasure to work with, a huge thanks to you as well."

"Indiana, I appreciate the life lessons and every experience this beautiful University has taught me. I have made relationships here that will last a lifetime. From the people, places, and basketball it has truly been a pleasure to wear the cream and crimson. I will cherish this place and am happy to say that I can call it my home."

"All my life it has been a dream of mine to play in the NBA. With that being said, I will forego my extra year of eligibility and go all in for the 2023 NBA Draft while continuing my representation with Excel Sports Management. Sincerely, Trayce Jackson-Davis."

Related stories on Indiana basketball

• SENIOR NIGHT SPEECH: Trayce Jackson-Davis led the Hoosiers to a 75-73 overtime victory against Michigan on Sunday with 27 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals. Here's what he said in his Senior Night speech. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA ALL-TIME SCORING LIST: Trayce Jackson-Davis concluded his great Indiana basketball career on Sunday in a second-round NCAA Tournament loss to Miami. He finished with 2,258 points, third all-time. Here's the complete list of 1,000-point scorers at Indiana. CLICK HERE
• TJD WINS KARL MALONE AWARD: Indiana senior Trayce Jackson-Davis won the prestigious Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year award on Saturday, being honored as the best in the game at that position. He's leaving Indiana as the school's all-time rebounder and shot blocker and is No. 3 on the IU all-time scoring list. CLICK HERE
• EMPIRE CLASSIC FIELD ANNOUNCED: Indiana basketball will compete in the 2023 Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden along with Louisville, Texas and UConn, the defending national champions. CLICK HERE