N’Faly Dante isn’t coming back to Oregon. He says that’s OK.

Photo courtesy of UO Men’s Basketball

N’Faly Dante admits the last few months haven’t been easy. 

It’s not like he just sat waiting around while his collegiate fate hung in the balance. The former Oregon Ducks men’s basketball star, whose petition — and subsequent appeal — to the NCAA for another year of eligibility was denied earlier this month, has been crossing the country attending NBA Draft workouts, with Tuesday afternoon’s with Golden State coming less than 24 hours after walking across a stage in Eugene to celebrate his graduation from college. 

“My mom would be proud,” Dante said. “That’s my dream to get my degree.”

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Tyson Alger covered the Ducks for The Oregonian and The Athletic before branching out on his own to create and run The I-5 Corridor. He brings more than a decade of experience on the University of Oregon sports beat. He has covered everything from Marcus Mariota’s Heisman Trophy-winning season to the Ducks’ first year in the Big 10.