More on Draft Early Entries
Shawnee State senior big man E.J. Onu has officially announced his intention to enter the NBA Draft, as announced by Onu himself on Thursday on social media.
LSU guard Javonte Smart, who in three years went from local prep star to outstanding leader and one of the league’s top point guards, announced on his Instagram account late Thursday morning that he will be entering the NBA draft. Smart said “… thank you for an amazing three years. I, along with my family, have decided to enter the 2021 NBA Draft with an agent.”
Villanova forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl announced Friday that he is declaring for the NBA Draft and hiring an agent after a standout sophomore season for the Wildcats. Robinson-Earl averaged 15.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this season and became a double-double machine late in the season.
After one of the best seasons in Alabama men's basketball history, senior Herb Jones has announced he will enter into the upcoming NBA Draft. Jones joins fellow senior John Petty in the NBA Draft pool, due to the pandemic seniors had the option to return to universities for an additional year. Both Jones and Petty went through draft evaluations last year but opted instead to return to Tuscaloosa for their senior years.
Maryland men’s basketball junior guard Aaron Wiggins announced on Friday that he entered his name into the NBA Draft while maintaining his eligibility.
Arizona State freshman forward Marcus Bagley has declared for the NBA Draft, he told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. Bagley told ESPN he is keeping all of his options open and has not yet hired an agent.
Sophomore guard Terrence Shannon Jr. announced via Twitter on Thursday that he’s declaring for the 2021 NBA draft. Shannon said in his post that has decided to retain his eligibility and will not sign with an agent just yet.
Yves Pons posted a thank you note to Tennessee fans on social media on Friday afternoon and appears to be moving on with his basketball career. “I’ll always cherish my four great years at Tennessee,” Pons posted on Instagram and Twitter, “and I’m proud to be a Vol For Life!” Pons could have returned next season, using the free year of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of the coronavirus pandemic, but it was widely expected that he would move on to whatever is next in his career — the NBA, the NBA’s G-League or playing overseas.
Kansas basketball’s Ochai Agbaji announced Thursday that he has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft.
Shams Charania: Baylor junior Davion Mitchell -- a potential lottery pick -- is declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft and plans to hire an agent, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Mitchell led Baylor to the national championship on Monday.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Tennessee freshman guard Keon Johnson – No. 6 in ESPN’s Top 100 -- will enter the 2021 NBA Draft and hire an agent, Johnson tells @DraftExpress . “The NBA has always been my goal, but I never expected it to come this soon.”
Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu has decided to enter the 2021 NBA draft and forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility, he said on ESPN’s The Jump on Wednesday (link via Jonathan Givony of ESPN).
The Jump: 🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨 Ayo Dosunmu declares for the #NBADraft! 👏 #NBA #NBATwitter #TheJump
Adam Zagoria: South Carolina wing Justin Minaya will test the NBA Draft waters and also enter the portal as a backup pic.twitter.com/8sSVSbhGdD
Maryland senior Darryl Morsell will declare for the NBA Draft and enter the NCAA transfer portal, he announced Monday. But he although he also hasn't ruled out a return to College Park.
WVU sophomore guard Miles ‘Deuce’ McBride will be entering his name into the 2021 NBA Draft, after a report by ESPN on Friday night.
Rutgers junior forward Ron Harper Jr. announced his plans to submit his name for the 2021 NBA Draft and go through the NBA’s evaluation process while maintaining his college eligibility in an Instagram post Friday.
Loren Cristian Jackson, point guard for the University of Akron men’s basketball team, announced Friday that he will enter the 2021 NBA Draft, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
D.J. Stewart Jr. announced Thursday that he'll enter his name into the NBA Draft pool, but unlike the other players that have decided to leave the program, the redshirt sophomore standout left the possibility of coming back.
Clemson guard Clyde Trapp announced Wednesday that he is putting his name in for the NBA Draft. Trapp, the former Lower Richland High School standout, posted on Twitter that he is entering the NBA Draft but not signing with an agent — a move that opens the door for him to return to college.
Coppin State senior guard Anthony Tarke has declared for the 2021 NBA draft, he announced on social media Wednesday night, but will maintain his college eligibility.
Arizona point guard James Akinjo has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft but may still return to the Wildcats next season, he announced Wednesday.
Ohio State could lose one of its best players to the NBA earlier than expected. On Wednesday, sophomore forward EJ Liddell announced he intends to enter his name in the 2021 NBA Draft while maintaining his eligibility.
UNLV junior wing Bryce Hamilton is entering the 2021 NBA draft. Well, sort of. Hamilton on Tuesday announced via Twitter that he is going to partake of the draft process to “test the waters.” But he won’t be hiring an agent, allowing him to maintain his college eligibility and make possible a return to the Rebels in 2021-22.
WKU junior big man Charles Bassey has declared for the NBA draft. The original report was made by Jonathan Givony from ESPN. The announcement comes Thursday afternoon from the center who told ESPN he was declaring for the draft and hiring an agent.
Auburn’s first-year sensation has left the building. Star point guard Sharife Cooper announced on social media Friday he will be taking his talents to the NBA. “It was a tough decision, a hard decision, but with that being said, I would like to declare for the 2021 NBA Draft and hire an agent,” said Cooper.
Stanford freshman Ziaire Williams declared for the 2021 NBA Draft on Wednesday. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 10.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 20 games (14 starts) for the Cardinal in 2020-21.
Another player is leaving Florida State's basketball team. RaiQuan Gray announced on Twitter that he would enter his name into the 2021 NBA Draft.
For the last 10 days, Marshall guard Taevion Kinsey spent time talking with agents and NBA personnel after entering his name in the pool for the 2021 NBA Draft. The more he spoke with those representatives, the more Kinsey said his decision became clear. On Friday, Kinsey made his decision official, announcing that he remove his name from the NBA Draft pool to return to the Thundering Herd in the 2021-22 season.
Cade Cunningham announced Thursday that he will enter the NBA draft after a dynamic freshman season for Oklahoma State that saw him named a first-team AP All-American. "I see them as more human now than I used to," Cunningham said. "I've been looking at those guys since I was a sophomore in high school. Those are the guys I've got to try to outwork right now."
"It's hard to make that decision in the moment, so I just wanted to wait until my head was level," Cunningham said. "But I was just blessed to have that opportunity to be able to enter the draft. I felt like I had did a lot of the work early to be in that position."
Cunningham knows the work is just beginning. The Texas native has already been thinking of ways to improve before the July 29 draft. "Throughout the season, I was just adding things on in my head," he said. "We don't have as much time to just get in the gym and work. I definitely want to get my fluidity and my movement better, whether that's yoga and things like that. Just getting my range of motion and things a lot better. I still want to focus on tightening my handle, shooting the ball better, just getting more consistent at a lot of the things that I do now."
It was announced today (April 2) that Providence College junior guard David Duke (Providence, R.I.) has hired an agent and he will enter the 2021 NBA Draft. "We are appreciative of everything that David has done for our men's basketball program," Providence College Head Coach Ed Cooley said. "David has always had a goal of playing in the NBA.”
Jonathan Wasserman: Add Scottie Lewis to the 2021 draft field. Signing with an agent per his IG.
Adrian Wojnarowski: UConn Huskies sophomore guard James Bouknight is entering the 2021 NBA Draft and plans to hire an agent, Bouknight tells ESPN. es.pn/31GER41
Austin Reaves will leave Oklahoma to declare for the 2021 NBA draft and will forgo his remaining college eligibility. "I have decided to declare for the NBA draft and will be hiring an agent in the near future," Reaves told ESPN. "My family and I believe this is best decision for my future and I'm super excited for the next part of my journey."
Syracuse forward Quincy Guerrier will test the NBA waters, said his Canadian prep coach at Thetford Academy and longtime advisor Ibrahim Appiah. “We’ve spoken about it briefly,” Appiah said today in a phone conversation. “We’re still stuck on details but definitely he wants to try his luck. I don’t think he loses anything by trying his luck, especially with this new way of doing it. It’s a great thing for him just to see where he stands and where he ranks. What’s the perception of him and things like that. It’s a great way to get feedback and just to see where he’s at.”
Florida starting forward Colin Castleton announced on social media that he will be entering his name in the 2021 NBA draft. However Castleton will not be hiring and agent therefore he will be able to keep his collegiate eligibility.
Syracuse forward Quincy Guerrier will test the NBA waters, said his Canadian prep coach at Thetford Academy and longtime advisor Ibrahim Appiah.
Jaden Springer is headed for the NBA Draft and will sign with an agent, he announced Monday. Springer averaged a team-best 12.5 points and shot 43.5% from 3-point range as a freshman with Tennessee basketball. He also averaged 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
North Texas guard Javion Hamlet announced on Monday that he is declaring for the NBA draft, the next step in a journey that included a remarkable two-year run at UNT.
Another Utah rotation piece is unlikely to return next season, but this one comes as no surprise. Alfonso Plummer, a sharpshooting, feast-or-famine shooting guard, announced on Twitter Monday afternoon that he will enter the NBA Draft to “test the waters,” while also entering the NCAA Transfer Portal in effort to survey options if he decides to return to college one more year.
The deadline for an early entry player to apply for this year’s NBA Draft is Sunday, May 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The deadline for an early entry player to withdraw from the NBA Draft is Monday, July 19 at 5 p.m. ET.
Jon Rothstein: Utah State's Neemias Queta has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft, per his Twitter page. Significant Mountain West news.
“I showed in college that I would be an excellent role player in the NBA,” Hunt said in an interview with The Dallas Morning News. “But what I want to show in the pre-draft process is all the other stuff that I have.”
Florida junior Colin Castleton plans to test the NBA waters without hiring an agent, he announced on social media Sunday.
Keyshawn Bryant announced on social media Sunday he was declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft and will not sign with an agent. That does leave the door open for a return to South Carolina, if he chooses to.
A second WVU guard will enter the NBA Draft evaluation process this spring. Taz Sherman announced Sunday afternoon that he is declaring himself eligible for the draft while leaving the option open to return to the college game next spring.
Illinois State Redbirds breakout guard Antonio Reeves announced on Twitter Saturday that he’s declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft. Reeves, a sophomore from Chicago announced he is entering the draft process, however there is still possibility of him returning to the ISU Redbirds next season.
If given the opportunity, would you like to come to the NBA next season or would you prefer to wait? Josh Giddey: At this point, there is a good chance I'll be declaring for the '21 draft, but as I said, we will just finish this season and see where we are at.
SMU guard Kendric Davis entered the 2021 NBA Draft on Friday with a chance to return for the 2021-22 season, he announced on Twitter. Davis, a unanimous first team All-AAC selection, averaged 19 points, two assists and 1.7 rebounds per game this season.
Big news arrived Friday for the Penn State men's basketball team: Starter Izaiah Brockington announced that he will return for the 2021 season. Brockington, a junior guard who was the team's second-leading scorer last season, announced his decision on social media. Brockington further said he will apply for feedback on entering the NBA draft.
The Coyote men’s basketball team’s lone senior Stanley Umude has entered the NCAA transfer portal as a graduate transfer and will also go through the NBA draft process, he announced on Twitter Friday afternoon.
Oklahoma guard De'Vion Harmon will take a crack at the NBA, he announced on his Twitter account Friday. "I plan on entering the NBA Draft!!," Harmon wrote in the tweet. "Thank you, Oklahoma! Forever Love."
Rutgers guard Jacob Young has been busy today, first entering the Transfer Portal, and now announcing that he has made himself available for the upcoming NBA Draft. “After discussion with my family, I have decided to enter the NBA draft; also, I put my name in the transfer portal to explore all other options,” Young posted to his Instagram account this afternoon.
Jeff Goodman: Texas’ Kai Jones declares for the NBA Draft.
Pittsburgh sophomore small forward Justin Champagnie will test the NBA Draft process with the possibility to return to school in 2021-22, the school announced in a release on Tuesday. He’ll have the chance to work out for NBA teams before deciding whether or not he’ll return for another season at a later date.
JT Thor is the first Tiger to announce he'll be testing out the NBA waters. Thor, a rising sophomore who started all 27 games for Auburn last season, announced Tuesday afternoon he'll be entering his name into the NBA draft process. He said in his announcement that he is leaving open the possibility of returning to school next season.
West Virginia junior guard Sean McNeil announced on Twitter Tuesday afternoon that he will enter his name into the 2021 NBA Draft with the possibility of returning for his senior year.
After Illinois lost to Loyola Chicago in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday, head coach Brad Underwood said junior guard Ayo Dosunmu will take the “next step” in his career — presumably to the NBA Draft
B.J. Boston is taking his talents to the NBA Draft. The former five-star recruit announced on Instagram Saturday afternoon that he will leave Kentucky after one season in Lexington. He intends to sign with an agent as he prepares for professional basketball.
On Friday afternoon, Marcus Carr’s mentor told 247sports that Carr will be going through the NBA Draft process, with another college stop being an alternative.
Jeff Goodman: Kentucky freshman Terrence Clarke declared for the NBA Draft. Will be interesting to see if he can get into the first round.
Kentucky freshman forward Lance Ware will return for his sophomore campaign in 2021-22. The 6-foot-9 forward out of Camden, NJ announced on his Instagram story this afternoon that he will be back in Lexington for year two. “Yes (I’m) coming back next year…” Ware said.
Gophers point guard Marcus Carr has entered the transfer portal. He's also expected to test the NBA Draft waters, like he did last year, a source confirms to KSTP Sports.
Kentucky freshman forward Isaiah Jackson will go through the NBA Draft process but will leave open the option to return to school, his father, Wes, told CatsPause.com Tuesday. Jackson is projected as a potential lottery pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Manny Camper announced Tuesday with a social-media post that he’ll declare for the NBA draft. The 21-year-old did that after his junior season with the Siena men’s basketball program, too, but Camper confirmed Tuesday in a phone interview that he plans this time to hire an agent and not seek to preserve his college playing eligibility.
Just one day after Boston College men’s basketball finalized a key addition to the program with the announcement of Earl Grant as BC’s new head coach, the Eagles lost an important piece of their lineup on Tuesday, as forward Steffon Mitchell declared for the 2021 NBA Draft.
With the NCAA granting all current players an extra year of eligibility, the NBA will shift to a system requiring all players to petition for entry into the 2021 draft. The NCAA approved the extra year of eligibility in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
According to ESPN, the NBA requirement was approved by the league office because the NCAA’s new approach changed the definition and application of “eligible players” for NBA draft consideration. Current NBA collective bargaining agreement language grants graduating college seniors who exhausted their NCAA eligibility automatic entry into the following year’s draft.
Ryan McDonough: Here is the NBA Draft’s international player early entry list. A number of the players on the original list withdrew from the Draft yesterday. Two names to know if your team is picking in the Lottery - Deni Avdija and Killian Hayes. Both will be selected quickly next Wednesday.
Barak Haklai: Official: Yam Madar decided to keep his name on the list for the 2020 NBA Draft
Nikos Rogkavopoulos decided to withdraw from the postponed 2020 NBA draft. He will retain his eligibility moving forward to the 2021 draft.
2000-born Cameroonian guard Aristide Mouaha has withdrawn from the 2020 NBA Draft, his agent Mario Scotti of Two Points told Sportando.
Liz Mullen: NBA: There are now 72 players from educational institutions & 36 international prospects that are considered early entry candidates for the 2020 NBA Draft. 92 collegiate players & 7 international players who had previously declared have withdrawn their names from consideration. pic.twitter.com/zgGz6HDAg7
The Pac-12 Conference’s most improved player could become its most valuable. Chris Smith is returning to UCLA for his senior season, putting off the NBA for one more chance to continue his dramatic upward college trajectory. Sean Smith, Chris’ father, made the announcement Monday. “Chris is returning to school due to too much uncertainty on both sides of the coin,” said Sean Smith, alluding to the COVID-19 pandemic that led to the cancellation of workouts for NBA prospects and a delayed draft. “He’ll finish his degree and work to improve in the areas he needs to improve on.”
Sean Farnham: 2nd thoughts are over...Yves Pons @Airpons will return to @Vol_Hoops for his senior season, according to his NCAA certified representation.
Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert is withdrawing his name from the NBA draft and will return to the Bulldogs for his senior season, putting them in contention to be the preseason No. 1 team in the country. Kispert was a potential second-round pick, ranking No. 47 overall and No. 6 among small forwards in ESPN's NBA draft rankings. But he, like teammate Joel Ayayi last week, is heading back to Spokane, Washington, to compete for a national championship.
Adam Zagoria: Makur Maker is withdrawing from the NBA Draft, per his guardian Ed Smith. He committed to Howard earlier this summer.
