P.J. Hairston, formerly a junior guard on the North Carolina basketball team, submitted paperwork today to play in the NBA’s Developmental League, Hairston said in a statement.
Hairston has signed a D-League contract, according to D-League spokeswoman Joanna Shapiro.
By signing a contract, Hairston would join the D-League player pool to be claimed by a D-League team through a waiver process. Hairston is not eligible to play for an NBA team until he goes through the NBA draft process.
Hairston has also enrolled in an online course at UNC, according to the statement.
Read Hairston’s full statement below:
“I’ve spent the past couple of weeks consulting with my family about what’s best for me, my development and my future.
With their counsel in mind, I have enrolled in an online course at the University of North Carolina, taking a class in my major that will be applied towards getting my communications degree. I turned in my first assignment yesterday.
Additionally, I am pursing an opportunity to play basketball in the NBA’s Developmental League, and submitted my paperwork this afternoon.
I am excited to continue to pursue my degree at UNC while also pursing (sic)
my dream of becoming a professional basketball player.
