Brandin Podziemski Declares for NBA Draft
The sophomore guard will test the professional waters after one season with the Broncos
Last year, Santa Clara had the pleasure of watching Jalen Williams ascend to the NBA. As a welcome surprise, the Broncos have sent another player to the pros–this time it is Brandin Podziemski getting the nod.
The sophomore–arguably one of the best players to ever represent the Broncos basketball program–declared his intentions to enter the 2023 NBA draft on March 21. The athlete stated that he won’t hire a professional agent, suggesting that he may return to Santa Clara should scouts recommend that he return to school during the pre-draft process.
Podziemski is one of five Broncos who have departed since the season ended, as Keshawn Justice is ineligible Giordan Williams and Jaden Bediako have entered the transfer portal and Jacob Holt has transferred to Sacramento State.
During his year on the Leavey Center court, Podziemski averaged 20 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, all-team highs this season. He constantly improved as a three-level scorer. He drove to the paint for his renowned floater. He hit both stepback mid-range jumpers and stepback wing three-pointers. He was unstoppable from inside the paint to outside the arc.
Draft experts have certainly taken notice of this improvement, as Bleacher Report has Podziemski projected to be the 26th overall pick and go to the Memphis Grizzlies, while NBC Sports has him slated to go 28th overall to the Charlotte Hornets.
Podziemski took to Instagram to announce his intent, expressing that playing in the NBA has been a dream of his since the 8th grade, when he first began playing basketball.
“To Santa Clara, Coach Sendek, and his entire staff, thank you for blessing me with this opportunity this season,” he said. “You helped me continue to grow as a man and a basketball player. I will forever be grateful and humbled for your belief in me on and off the court.”
The Wisconsin native scored a total of 2,154 points during his three-year high school career at St. John’s Northwestern Academies, becoming the first Wisconsin high school basketball player to amass 2,000 career points over three seasons.
Professional scouts will look to see if Podziemski’s talents can translate to the NBA, focusing on if he can adapt to the speed of the professional game. He averaged 1.8 steals per game this season for Santa Clara, but professional ballers are faster, bigger and more physical, so Brandin will need to bulk up to fight over screens and keep up with other players. Regardless, Podziemski was a rising star, impressing not only on the West Coast but throughout the country.
He spent one year with the Broncos after transferring from the University of Illinois as a rising sophomore. The former Fighting Illini player made every second count with Santa Clara after only averaging four minutes per game as a freshman.
Podziemski has been simply unbelievable. His performances in the Bronco jersey this season have only added to a feeling of an ever-progressing Santa Clara basketball program. He will look to have a stellar NBA career alongside the likes of Jalen Williams, who went 12th overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder last year.
We thank Brandin for his contributions to the team and wish him the best of luck as he focuses towards his professional career!