Prospective top pick Jamie Malonzo leads the latest batch of names who have submitted their applications for the 2021 PBA Rookie Draft.
The one-and-done forward out of De La Salle University, who is projected to be taken inside the top five of a deep draft pool on Mar. 14, passed his papers Thursday afternoon.
Malonzo led the Green Archers in scoring in UAAP Season 82 and averaged 15.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 18 games -- numbers that proved enough to enough him a spot in the Mythical Five.
After suiting up for La Salle, Malonzo also saw action for Mighty Sports in the 31st Dubai International Basketball Championship last year and was a key piece in the team's title finish.
In the PBA D-League, Malonzo played one game with Marinerong Pilipino before the coronavirus pandemic cancelled the season.
Other players confirmed to have joined the draft are Letran's Larry Muyang, Jun Manzo and David Murrell of University of the Philippines, and former La Salle center James Laput, bringing the total number of PBA hopefuls to 67.
Muyang, the 2018 NCAA Rookie of the Year, posted 12.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists while being one of the guiding forces for the Knights' title run in Season 95. Muyang also suited up for Pampanga in the National Basketball League (NBL) and again with Pampanga and San Juan in the MPBL.
Manzo thrived in 26 minutes per game in his final year with the Fighting Maroons in Season 82 and tallied 8.4 points, 4.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds. His teammate Murrell, a defensive stopper, was limited to nine minutes per game and averaged 1.8 points and 1.9 boards. Both helped UP reach the second stepladder round of the playoffs.
Laput, meanwhile, overcame a back injury that derailed his lone season with La Salle and had productive stints with Marinerong Pilipino in the 2020 D-League season before manning the middle for Big Boss Cement-Porac in the 2020 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 President's Cup last year.