Wyoming guard Drake Jeffries announces he won’t return

LARAMIE -- Drake Jeffries announced Thursday that he won't be returning to the Wyoming basketball team.

The senior guard took to Twitter where he penned a note to Cowboys fans.

"Wanted to express my love and gratitude towards you all," Jeffries wrote. "These last 2 years have been nothing short of amazing. I have decided to turn pro and not return for my final season as a Cowboy. I cannot thank everyone enough for welcoming me with open arms! Go Pokes!"

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Jeffries, who was one of the top 3-point shooters in the country this season, was one of just three UW players to average double-figures scoring per game with 10.3. The Mattoon, Illinois product sank 94 triples in 34 games.

He averaged nearly 41% shooting from beyond the arc to rank him 25th in Division I.

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Jeffries is the first UW senior to announce his future plans publicly. Hunter Maldonado and Hunter Thompson, like Jeffries, could return for one final season if they choose thanks to a "free" year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jeffries came to Laramie in 2020 as part of Jeff Linder's initial recruiting class. He had spent the previous season at Indian Hills Community College (Iowa) where he established himself as one of the top outside shooters in the country. Before that, he spent two seasons at Minot State in North Dakota.

He averaged better than 40% from beyond the arc in both of those stops.

That didn't change at Wyoming.

Before Jeffries came to town, the Cowboys won just 17 total games over the previous two seasons. This winter, he helped lead this program to a 25-9 overall record and its 16th NCAA Tournament appearance.

"It's just an unbelievable feeling," he said in Laramie on Selection Sunday. "You know, growing up, I always dreamed of being in this position, going to the tournament. So, you know, being in this position is unreal obviously -- and a relief.

"I'm just super excited to be put in this position and hopefully go into Dayton and get a win."

Jeffries best individual game came during a late November meeting with Hastings College (Neb.). That night inside the Arena-Auditorium, he sank a Mountain West and school record 11 3-pointers on 17 attempts and finished with 33 points.

Jeffries scored in double-figures 16 times this season while averaging nearly 37 minutes per night.

He also proved to be one of the Cowboys top rebounders, pulling down nearly six a night.

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