Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has exercised its fourth-year option on forward Cody Zeller.

“We are excited to keep Cody Zeller as a part of our core for another season,” Cho said.  “We have been very pleased with Cody’s development on both ends of the floor and look forward to him continuing to expand his game as a member of our roster.”

The fourth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Zeller played in all 82 games of his rookie season and has appeared in 146 games total in his career (48 starts).  The Washington, Ind. native holds career averages of 6.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.2 minutes per game.  He saw significant statistical improvement from his first season to his second, increasing his scoring average, rebounding average, blocks average, field goal percentage and free throw percentage.  Despite playing 20 fewer games than his first season, Zeller posted more double-doubles, more double-figure scoring games, more double-figure rebounding games and greater season totals in rebounds, assists, blocks and minutes played.

Zeller was named to the 2014 NBA All-Rookie Second Team and participated in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend 2015 in New York, where he recorded 12 points, four rebounds and three steals in 20 minutes of play.  Zeller has spent his whole career in Charlotte after playing at Indiana University.  As a Hoosier, Zeller averaged 16.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 29.0 minutes played per game and garnered multiple All-America and All-Big Ten honors in his two seasons there.