Waiters, who was named Big East Sixth Man of the Year this season, averaged 12.7 points in helping lead the Orange to a 34-3 record. He did not start a game all season and averaged 24.2 minutes.
The Life Center Academy (Burlington County) product made his decision less than 48 hours after Syracuse lost to Ohio State in the NCAA East Regional finals at Boston.
"I want to thank my coaches and my teammates," Waiters said. "I've had an amazing experience at Syracuse University."
Jim Clibanoff, president of ClibHoops, a scouting service to which many NBA teams and international clubs subscribe, said Waiters could have averaged more than 20 points had he played for any other Division I program.
He said Waiters "made tremendous strides this year in all facets of his game" but "needs to show a commitment to being a defensive factor instead of adopting an 'I'll-score-more-than-the-guy-I-am-checking' attitude." He probably would be best in the NBA as a scoring guard who passes well, Clibanoff said.
Clibanoff estimates Waiters could go anywhere from 17th to 23d in the first round of the draft depending on who comes out. Two basketball websites, HoopsHype and NBA DraftNet, have Waiters going No. 20, the spot currently occupied in their mock drafts by the 76ers.
Contact Joe Juliano at 215-854-4494 or jjuliano@phillynews.com or follow him on Twitter @joejulesinq
