Little Rock’s influence in the National Basketball Association added another chapter Friday when Rayjon Tucker signed a free agent contract with the Milwaukee Bucks in conjunction with the 2019 NBA Draft.

Tucker becomes the ninth player in program history to sign a deal with an NBA franchise and the first since Shane Edwards signed a mid-season deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2013-14 season. He will compete for Milwaukee during the NBA’s Summer League in Las Vegas next month before taking part in the Bucks’ training camp in late September.

Tucker put together one of the best seasons in program history in his first year as a Trojan, ranking fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring average at 20.3 points per game while becoming just the fifth player in program history to score 600 points in a season. Tucker finished with 610, ranking fourth all-time, while sitting fifth in the league in field goal percentage (49.1 percent).

The Charlotte, North Carolina native was a mainstay on the court for Little Rock this season, ranking 34th nationally in minutes per game at 36:32, playing 35 or more minutes in 23 of his 30 games this season. Tucker closed the regular season ranked 26th nationally in free throws made at 164 (ranking fourth in program history) and connected on 77.7 percent of his free throw attempts, ranking eighth in the Sun Belt Conference.

A scoring threat all over the court, Tucker finished with 72 three-pointers made this season, ranking sixth in the league and 12th for a single season in program history, ranking 10th in the Sun Belt in rebounding (6.7), and third in defensive rebounds (6.0). He also finished the year with 27 dunks and six double-doubles, scoring in double figures in 29 of his 30 games while scoring 20 or more points on 15 occasions.

Tucker was named second team All-Sun Belt Conference, as well as a second team NABC All-District 24 selection. He finished his collegiate career with 1,061 career points, including the 471 he scored in two seasons while at Florida Gulf Coast.