Colorado officially has its first ‘one and done.’

As expected, Buffaloes freshman Cody Williams declared for the NBA draft on Monday after one season in Boulder.

Cody Williams makes it official. He’s entering the NBA Draft and the #CUBuffs have (as expected) lost the entire top 6 rotation players that led NCAA Tournament run. pic.twitter.com/Tte8eded73

— Tyler King (@King_TylerB) April 22, 2024

The Arizona native was the highest-rated recruit signed by CU in the internet rankings era and coach Tad Boyle’s first 5-star recruit in his 14 years in charge of the program.

Despite multiple injuries that caused him to miss over a dozen games this past season, Williams was a key piece for a Buffs team that set a program record with 26 wins and won multiple NCAA Tournament games for the second time in program history, averaging just under 12 points per game on an efficient 55.2% from the field, 41.5% from 3-point range and 71.4% from the free throw line.

Williams is widely projected to be a top 10 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, with some experts saying he could be picked in the top 5, given his defensive prowess for a 19-year-old, length and athleticism.

He’ll join his older brother, Jalen, a rising star for the Oklahoma City Thunder, in the league and Cody was recently spotted at Jalen’s first round playoff game against the Pelicans on Sunday night. 

The best game of Williams’ season came against Oregon in January when he scored 23 points on 10-for-13 shooting from the field, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range, to go with three assists and two rebounds in an 86-70 win in Boulder.

If Williams is drafted in the top 5, he’ll be just the second CU player taken in the first five picks in the modern era, joining Chauncey Billups, who could wind up coaching Williams next season as Billups’ Portland Trail Blazers have the third-best lottery odds and are almost a lock to select in the top 5.

The Buffs haven’t had a player selected in the first round since Derrick White in 2017, but fellow CU teammates Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson are also projected to be selected in this year’s draft, also potentially in the first round.

Luke O’Brien announces transfer destination

One of the most beloved players of this past year’s CU squad has found a new home.

Littleton native and Columbine grad Luke O’Brien announced on his Instagram Monday morning that he has committed to Georgia Tech, where he will use his final year of eligibility after four solid years with the Buffs.

O’Brien averaged a career-high 6.7 points per game this past season and started 19 games, the majority of which came in CU’s 10-2 finish to the season. He had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists in the win over Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. 

He now figures to be a key piece for a Yellow Jackets team, led by coach Damon Stoudamire, that is in search of just its second trip to March Madness since 2010.

CU adds veteran sharpshooter

With the entire top six rotation players from last year’s team all officially moving on, Boyle has begun the process of rebuilding his roster and he’s now made two really solid additions, both of whom project to be starters.

After adding Colorado Mesa standout Trevor Baskin, one of the top Division II players in the country, the Buffs have also gotten a commitment from Washington State transfer Andrej Jakimovski.

The native Macedonian averaged just under 10 points and six rebounds per game last season for a Cougars team that made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.

After losing the large majority of a team that was one of the best shooting teams in the nation in 2023-24, adding Jakimovski gives the Buffs a knockdown shooter on the perimeter who averaged over 34% for his career on nearly five attempts per game.

Boyle’s staff still has two remaining open scholarships for next season.