Daniel Oturu could be the next one to turn pro and start that process of catching up. NBA teams have already begun to seek insight from Pitino, and the coach and the player have had multiple conversations about the possibility of Oturu declaring for the draft. Minnesota had only two players appear in the NBA during the 2010s, though, with Kris Humphries the last one drafted in 2004. Joel Przybilla, also a first-rounder in 2000, was the other former Gophers player to play in the league in the just-ended decade. That's why Pitino, even though a premature departure by Oturu would take away his best player, has no trouble embracing the topic.

Source: Fox News January 08, 2020 23:48 UTC