St. John's basketball: Chris Ledlum enters NBA Draft, still hoping for NCAA waiver

St. John's basketball forward Chris Ledlum is keeping his options open for the rest of his college career.

He announced on Wednesday afternoon that he will be entering the 2024 NBA Draft while still going through the process of acquiring a waiver from the NCAA that would allow him to play with the Red Storm during the 2024-25 season.

"Representing St. John's this year has been an honor beyond words, and the memories created here will forever hold a special place in my heart," Ledlum said in a statement on social media.

"I would like to announce my decsion to declare for the NBA Draft while also going through the NCAA waiver process to maintain eligibility."

St. John's and Ledlum are hoping that he and Jordan Dingle, a transfer from UPenn, get granted waivers to play an extra year like the rest of the country after the Ivy League did not participate in the 2020-21 season.

Chris Ledlum played in 31 games this season for the Johnnies, averaging 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game on 42.7-percent shooting. Despite being undersized at 6-foot-6, he became a glue for the Red Storm in the paint and did all of the little things that added up to victories.

"I am immensley grateful for the unwavering support of my family, teammates, coaches, and fans throughout this journey," he continued. "Your belief in me has fuled my passion and determination every step of the way. The lessons learned and experiences gained here have prepared me for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead."

Ledlum, after three years at Harvard, entered the transfer portal last season and committed to Tennessee over St. John's before entering the portal again after a few weeks in Knoxville and landing with the Red Storm.

Currently, St. John's has five vacant scholarships for next season, which do not include Chris Ledlum or Jordan Dingle.