The Bulls signed rookie guard Denzel Valentine today.
Valentine (6-6, 212) was selected by the Bulls in the first round (No. 14 overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft after playing four years of college basketball at Michigan State. In 2015-16, he posted 19.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 7.8 apg through 31 games for the Spartans – averages not achieved since the assist became an official stat in 1983-84. He also shot .462 from the field, .444 from beyond the arc and .853 from the free throw line.
After the 2015-16 season, Valentine became the first player in Michigan State history to be recognized as the National Player of the Year by The Associated Press. He also earned other player of the year awards from the NABC, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports and Basketball Times in addition to being named a unanimous First-Team All-American after his senior season. For conference honors, Valentine added Big Ten Player of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten to his accolades last year. As a junior, he was named Third Team All-Big Ten, and was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten as a sophomore. Valentine left Michigan State with career averages of 11.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 4.4 apg.
At the Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Valentine has posted 11.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.5 apg and 1.50 spg in 27.3 mpg through four games.
