Kansas Jayhawks' Christian Braun to enter NBA draft but maintain college eligibility

Christian Braun will enter the NBA draft, but will maintain his college eligibility, he said on Sunday.

Braun said it was hard to follow a season where you win every championship, but he was excited to explore the options in front of him.

Braun was named second-team All-Big 12 after he averaged 14.1 points, 6.5 rebound and 2.8 assists in 34 minutes for Kansas. The Jayhawks won the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles before winning the NCAA title.

Braun played a key role in helping Kansas overcome a 15-point halftime deficit against North Carolina in the title game, and he scored 10 second-half points. It was the first NCAA title for the Jayhawks.

Braun said that winning a national championship was their goal from the beginning. Whether it is knocking down open shots, scoring in transition, or defending the opposing team's best player, my primary focus is taking any challenge in front of me to help our team.

Braun played up to four positions for Kansas this season, playing on the perimeter, in the post, and in the half-court. He converted 39% of his 3-pointers, making him one of the more versatile wing players in this draft class.

Braun wasn't viewed as a major prospect entering college, and was not considered a top 100 recruit, scoring just 5.2 points per game as a freshman. He steadily improved his standing among NBA teams by adding strength, improving his quickness, and becoming a more versatile defender and passer.

Braun said that the path he has taken is a reflection of his confidence in himself. I have grown as a player every year that I have been able to showcase new elements of my skill set. I came to Kansas because the work I put in comes to light on the biggest stages. The challenge of meeting the standards of excellence that Kansas basketball has set and compete for national championships is what I came here to do. Nothing less.

The NBA draft combine will be held in Chicago in May, and the draft will be held in New York in June.

Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and international teams.