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Report: Dion Waiters leaving Syracuse, will enter NBA draft

Syracuse University's Waiters celebrates a foul by Kansas State University in the second half of their NCAA men's college basketball game in Pittsburgh

Syracuse University’s Dion Waiters celebrates a foul by Kansas State University in the second half of their NCAA men’s college basketball game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania March 17, 2012. REUTERS/Jason Cohn (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

REUTERS

Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv is reporting that sophomore guard Dion Waiters will not return to Syracuse and will, instead, enter the NBA draft.

A source told Zagoria that Waiters was, “definitely not coming back” to school.

Waiters was heavily critical of the refereeing in Syracuse’s 77-70 loss to Ohio State, even going as far as to say that it felt like the Orange “were playing five-on-eight.” If the report holds true, it would prove to be his last game at Syracuse.

The Philadelphia native averaged almost 13 points and three assists per game, coming off the bench this season. Despite being the Sixth Man, he was arguably the Orange’s most important player, perhaps rivaled by center Fab Melo.

Waiters continues to build an NBA-ready body, reportedly having a body fat composition of only 4 percent. Add that to the fact that he plays with a signature kind of swagger, and he is building a persona that could match his physical build.

Analysts say Waiters could be a Top 20 pick in the 2012 draft.

Players who retain their amateur status have until April 10 to remove their names from the NBA draft early-entry list, but the NBA does not require their names be entered until April 29.

Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_