Petrusev will Forego Junior Season and Play Professionally

SPOKANE, Wash. – Filip Petrusev announced Monday that he will pursue a professional career and not return for his junior season at Gonzaga.

Petrusev, who was named to the 2020 Wooden All-American Team, averaged a team-high 17.81 points per game, which ranked third in the West Coast Conference last season. He topped the league shooting 56.5 percent from the field. He was second in the WCC grabbing 7.77 rebounds per game, 5.42 defensive boards per game (third in WCC) and 2.35 offensive rebounds per game (fourth in WCC). He was ninth blocking 0.81 shots each game.

In conference play, Petrusev scored 18.5 points, while shooting 57.8 percent from the field. This past season, he had eight double-doubles, which ranked second in the WCC. The Belgrade, Serbia, native reached double-digit scoring in all but two games. He reached at least 20 points a team-high nine times in 2019-20, including a career-high 31 points in a win at Santa Clara.

Petrusev was named the WCC Player of the Year last season. He was named to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team following the 2018-19 season.

"We wish Filip all the best," Gonzaga Head Coach Mark Few said. "He improved tremendously with our program and had a great two-year run here."

Petrusev was named one of five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award for the 2019-20 season. He was tabbed second team All-American by the NABC and USA Today, and third team by the Associated Press and USBWA.

Petrusev helped the Bulldogs qualify for their 22nd straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2019-20. Gonzaga finished the shortened season at 31-2, going 15-1 in West Coast Conference play, winning the league regular season title for a national-best eighth straight season.

From Filip Petrusev:

Dear Coach Few and Zags Nation,

As you all know, I had entered my name into the 2020 NBA Draft back in April with the intention to "test the waters" and to receive valuable feedback from NBA teams on my readiness to possibly compete in the best basketball league in the world.

During this pre-draft process I have learned a lot that has helped me with one of the most important decisions in my life, to fulfill my life-long dream of playing in the NBA.
I wanted to officially inform you that I have decided to keep my name in the 2020 NBA Draft for now, hire an agent and forego my NCAA eligibility.

I am saddened that our season was cut short due to the unexpected circumstances around COVID-19. It was unfortunate that we didn't get the chance to compete in the NCAA tournament and possibly win the national championship. We are facing unprecedented times and none of us has a great deal of clarity for what lies ahead, resulting in the uncertainty regarding the upcoming NCAA basketball season.

However, despite these tough and uncertain times I have had enough time to weigh all of my possible options and after considerable thought I have determined that my decision to stay in the 2020 NBA draft and possibly playing in Europe for a year is the best option for me and my family.

The decision that I made was everything but easy, and was definitely the hardest decision that I've had to make in my life thus far. I am extremely excited about my next step and I can't wait to see what the future holds for me. I've dreamed about playing in the NBA my entire life and I am truly grateful that I am in the position to have my dreams come true.

I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of you: my teammates, the coaching staff, my classmates, professors, our amazing fans, and the entire Zags Nation for the unmatched love and support that I've experienced in the past two years as a fellow Zag. All of you have contributed to my growth and development as a basketball player, student, and most importantly as a person.

I gave every ounce of myself to Gonzaga University, I enjoyed each and every moment spent in Spokane and those memories will forever be in my heart!

Gonzaga University will always be my second home and place where I will be returning often. It has also been my life-long dream to earn a degree so I will continue to work hard in order to make that dream come true. I hope that I have your full support and that you will give me the opportunity to finish up my degree and graduate from Gonzaga University.

Sincerely and with love, Filip Petrušev

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