BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball freshman center Charles Bassey officially received an invitation Wednesday to next week's 2019 NBA Draft Combine.
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The NBA Draft Combine is a first step for a select group of NBA hopefuls. Bassey was one of 66 players chosen to attend the combine, as well as one of 24 college freshmen.
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The NBA Draft Combine features 5-on-5 games as well as shooting and strength and agility drills at Quest Multisport in Chicago on Thursday, May 16 and Friday, May 17. ESPN2 will provide coverage both days from 2-6 p.m. CT.
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Bassey previously declared for the NBA Draft without signing with an agent in order to receive evaluation, while retaining his NCAA eligibility and the option to return to school.
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The 6-foot-11, 245-pound native of Lagos, Nigeria, averaged 14.6 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in his first season for the Hilltoppers while shooting 62.7 percent from the field.
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He led Conference USA in double-doubles (17) and ranked in the top 30 nationally in double-doubles, field-goal percentage, blocks per game, total blocks, rebounds per game, defensive rebounds per game and total rebounds while competing as one of the top-10 youngest players in the country.
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He became just the second freshmen in the country since 1992 – along with current NBA star Anthony Davis – to average at least 14 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks while shooting at least 60 percent overall.
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Bassey was named a Freshman All-American and was 1 of 5 national finalists – including the only freshman – for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.
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He became the second player in Conference USA history to win both C-USA Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, and he was also named to the All-C-USA First Team, All-Freshman Team and All-Defensive Team.
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