Who signed a college letter of intent in 2001 but then decided to go pro?

Kwame Brown signed a college letter of intent in 2001 but then decided to go pro. He had committed to play basketball at the University of Florida, yet he entered the 2001 NBA draft directly from high school instead of attending college.

The Washington Wizards selected Brown with the first overall pick, making him the first player ever drafted No. 1 overall straight out of high school. His decision reflected the growing appeal of the NBA’s pre-draft route for elite teenage players.

Brown spent his rookie season with Washington and later played for several NBA teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, and Philadelphia 76ers. He is sometimes confused with players who played one season of college basketball before entering the draft, but Brown never played college basketball.