Landry Shamet will forgo his junior and senior seasons at Wichita State University to pursue a childhood dream.

He announced via Instagram last week that he intends to sign an agent and enter the NBA Draft, held in New York City on June 21.

I was 4 when I knew I wanted to play in the NBA someday… This ball and this goal ten feet off of the ground have brought me places I wouldn’t have ever imagined I’d go; who would’ve thought I’d be a Division 1 basketball player at Wichita State? This game has created friendships and unbreakable brotherhoods, has allowed me to meet and learn from interesting people from all over and, through hard work, has lead to me having an opportunity to fulfill that dream I’d envisioned at 4 years old. With that being said, I am declaring for the 2018 NBA Draft and foregoing my junior and senior seasons at Wichita State. I want to thank the city of Wichita and all of the thousands of people I’ve gotten to meet and interact with over the years. This community has truly touched my heart in more ways than one could imagine. Every single person I’ve crossed paths with has impacted me and left a mark on me and I truly felt an obligation to give you all absolutely everything I had every time I put on that jersey. I want to thank you all, the greatest fans in the world, for the unwavering support and love through all of the ups and all of the downs and everything in between. I want to thank my family and those that have been in my close circle throughout my career for allowing me to lean on you during any and all of my trials and tribulations. You know who you are. I want to thank my coaches for putting me in a position to have the opportunity to go fulfill my one and only lifelong dream. Without this platform and without Coach Marshall giving me the opportunities he’s given me, none of this is possible. And all of the coaches who have grown me on and off the court over my years playing. And lastly, I want to thank my brothers who I went to war with night-in and night-out. My teammates put me in a position to be who I am today and they’re guys that I’m proud to call my brothers for life. I’m following my intuition and I believe in life when an opportunity that you’ve dreamed of presents itself, you’ve got to go take it. And that’s what I am doing. I hope I’ve made you all proud and I hope that I’ll continue to do so. Nothing but Love -11

A post shared by Landry Shamet (@landry_shamet) on Mar 29, 2018 at 10:00am PDT

Without Shamet’s return, the Shockers return just five scholarship players — two in the rotation — to the 2018-19 team. C.J Keyser, Brett Barney and Kaelen Malone all announced their departures this week. Alex Lomax, a four-star point guard from Tennessee, was granted a release after the Memphis Tigers announced the hiring of Penny Hardaway as their head coach.

Shamet, 21, has long dreamed of a career in the NBA. He said in his announcement that he knew when he was 4 years old an NBA career was his dream.

When he was 13, Shamet would bicker with his mother, Melanie Shamet, about futures.

“Mom, you don’t understand, I’m going to the NBA,” he said. After much consideration over the last two weeks, including research and advice from teammates and a circle of family and friends, Shamet made the choice to end his career with the Shockers.

Shamet has long given consideration to his mother, Melanie, and how he might provide for her in the future. Shamet was brought up by a close family structure of his uncle, his grandpa, and others who helped Melanie, a single mother, raise Landry. Melanie Shamet worked third-shift at a casino in Kansas City.

Shamet told Paul Suellentrop in an interview that he’s always liked watching professional athletes provide better living situations for their parents.

“That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for me to have a chance to repay my mom for the countless things she’s done for me. … Take care of her, because I know how hard she worked.”

Shamet will hire an agent, ending his college eligibility.

Current draft projections have Shamet as high as a first round draft pick. NBADrat.net, which updates daily, has dropped Shamet out of their mock draft. Most mock drafts have Shamet projected as a late first round pick. Gary Parrish for CBS has Shamet taken No. 20 to the San Antonio Spurs.

If Shamet is drafted in the first round, he will secure a guaranteed $1.6 million starting salary. If he were to be drafted in the second round, a guaranteed contract is not required.

Former Shocker All-Americans Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet both actively play in the NBA; both signed contracts after failing to be drafted in the 2015 NBA Draft.

If Shamet were to be drafted, he would be the first Shocker to be drafted since the New York Knicks took Cleanthony Early in the second round of the 2014 draft.