William McDowell-White enters the 2019 NBA Draft
Talented point guard William McDowell-White has entered the 2019 NBA Draft following an injury interrupted European season in Germany.
"My plan is to stay in the draft this year," McDowell-White told Jonathan Givony of ESPN. "I feel like I am ready to pursue my lifelong dream of playing in the NBA."
The Queenslander permanently turned his back on the NCAA pathway after eligibility issues with Fresno State, leading to the 6'5 to pursue his NBA ambitions via Germany after signing a four year deal with with German Pro A side Baunach back in 2017.
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Baunach, the ‘farm team’ of German Bundesliga and EuroLeague club Brose Bamburg, provided a potentially lucrative development pathway for the 18-year-old that included two EuroLeague appearances in the 2017/18 season. Yet injury derailed a promising 2018/19, and after withdrawing his name from the 2018 NBA Draft, he will now take his chances in the upcoming 2019 version.
McDowell-White suffered a debilitating foot injury in November, resulting in the teenage prodigy being sidelined for the majority of the season.
As reported by Givony, a now fully fit McDowell-White will arrive in the US in May for workouts with the hope he may be invited to an NBA combine.
"It was my first time dealing with an injury, so it was obviously frustrating not being on the floor with my teammates," McDowell-White told Givony. "After getting my foot fully healthy, I feel like I am ready to attack this pre-draft process with everything I've got."
In the 2017-2018 German Pro A season, McDowell-White averaged 13 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals per game. Before heading to Germany, he also spend time as a development player with the Sydney Kings in the NBL.
Givony believes that McDowell-White as a big point guard prospect, is likely to draw plenty of interest, especially given his high IQ and feel for the game.
"Teams have always been impressed by my ability to make everyone around me better and my overall playmaking skills, but I've really taken time to focus on becoming a knock-down shooter as well," McDowell-White added.
"Australians all play with a chip on their shoulders, and a certain amount of toughness," McDowell-White said. "Being the next one drafted would be a great honor. Obviously, we have had stars like Ben Simmons get drafted, but even the less-heralded Aussies -- guys like Joe Ingles, Jonah Bolden, Patty Mills and Aron Baynes -- have had great success in the NBA and are playing integral roles on playoff teams."
McDowell-White is the son of former Australian Rules footballer Darryl White, and has previously represented Australia on multiple occasions, including the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championships where Australia finished in seventh place. He also took part in the 2014 adidas Nations Global and 2016 Nike Hoop Summit.
The point guard joins fellow Australians Harry Froling, the 2019 NBL Rookie of the Year with Adelaide, and Matur Maker, who is currently starring in Slovenia with Zlatorog Laško, as 2019 Draft hopefuls looking to further expand the Aussie presence in the NBA.