Vanderbilt guard Scotty Pippen Jr. made a decision on Saturday that he is declaring for the NBA Draft while retaining his collegiate eligibility. His announcement comes 34 years after his father, Scottie Pippen, was taken fifth overall in 1987.
— Scotty Pippen Jr (@spippenjr) April 10, 2021
“First off, I want to thank God for everything He has done in my life and for His continual blessings,” Pippen wrote. “I would also like to thank my family for being with me every step of the way. Your support, guidance, and love have meant the world to me, and you’ve always pushed me to be my best.
“To my friends, teammates, coaches, and everyone else who has been part of my journey, I appreciate you more than you know and none of this would be possible without ya’ll. I was blessed to have the opportunity to come to Vanderbilt University and throughout the highs and lows, the Commodore community has been amazing. I’ll never forget that.”
Pippen Jr. led Vanderbilt in multiple categories during a breakout year this past season. He scored a team-high 20.8 points per game across 22 contests as a sophomore, the second-best rate in the SEC. He also ranked first on head coach Jerry Stackhouse’s squad in assists (4.9), steals (1.8), and minutes per game (31.8).
His father played 17 NBA seasons from 1987 to 2004, headlined by his stint with the Chicago Bulls alongside Michael Jordan. The pair claimed six championships in two separate three-peats during the 1990s.