More on Draft Early Entries
Sam Vecenie: One of the big takeaways for me from watching the G League Elite Camp stuff was that EJ Onu’s rim protection and shot-blocking definitely translated to the higher level of competition. Announced today he’s staying in the draft. Will be interested to see if he gets his name called
Aaron Wiggins will forgo his final year of eligibility with the University of Maryland, and will keep his name in the 2021 NBA Draft, according to this agent, Mike Whitaker.
His agent, Mike Whitaker confirmed Aaron had two workouts before the July 7th deadline, with the Toronto Raptors on Monday, July 5th, and the Phoenix Suns; which would give him eight workouts so far, in the Pre-Draft process. Wiggins will also participate in a group workout with the Utah Jazz, and Minnesota Timberwolves on July 10th. The process spans four days, with 12 players working out per day, two workout groups at a time.
Taylor Eldridge: Last two NBA Draft workouts before Wichita State’s Tyson Etienne has to make the final decision of turning pro or returning to college. Etienne will work out for the Raptors today and the Suns tomorrow, then announce on Wednesday.
St. John’s expectations just rose significantly. Julian Champagnie, last year’s Big East leading scorer and all-conference first-team selection, announced Sunday night he is taking his name out of the NBA draft and will return to school for his junior year.
After going through a lengthy NBA Draft process that saw him work out and interview with multiple teams Colin Castleton announced via social media that he would be returning to Florida for his senior season.
Jon Rothstein: Source: West Virginia's Sean McNeil is expected to withdraw from the 2021 NBA Draft and return to school next season.
Iowa men’s basketball guard Joe Wieskamp officially announced Friday he’ll be keeping his name in the 2021 NBA Draft, ending his three-year career as a Hawkeye.
West Virginia guard Miles “Deuce” McBride has played his final game as a Mountaineer. Sources confirmed to MetroNews Friday that McBride informed WVU coach Bob Huggins of his decision to remain in the upcoming NBA Draft and forego his college eligibility.
Nebraska guard Dalano Banton announced Friday that he is staying in the 2021 NBA Draft and will forgo his remaining college eligibility. Underclassmen had until July 7 to announce their intentions to stay in the draft or return to college for the upcoming season.
Jeff Goodman: Texas’ Courtney Ramey told @Stadium he will withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to school. Longhorns are my Preseason No. 3 team in the country.
Jeff Goodman: Ohio State’s EJ Liddell will withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to the Buckeyes next season. Liddell is a potential first-team All-American and Ohio State Is a Preseason Top 15-20 team despite the loss of Duane Washington Jr., to the pros.
Jalen Wilson withdrew from the NBA draft on Friday and announced he would return to Kansas for his sophomore season, providing more experience on the wing for a rebuilt team that should begin among the top five in the nation. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound Wilson averaged 11.8 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds last season, helping the Jayhawks reach the second round of the NCAA tournament.
University of Kentucky senior guard Davion Mintz will withdraw his name from the 2021 NBA Draft and return to UK for the 2021-22 season, the program announced Thursday.
Jeff Goodman: Arkansas’ Stanley Umude has withdrawn from the NBA Draft process, source told @Stadium
Jeff Goodman: Quincy Guerrier told @Stadium he will withdraw from the NBA draft and play at Oregon this season. Huge for the Ducks.
Jon Rothstein: Iowa State's Izaiah Brockington tells me that he is withdrawing from the NBA Draft and will play college basketball next season. Transfer from Penn State.
Kentucky is getting its top basketball scorer back from last season, as guard Davion Mintz has decided to withdraw from the NBA draft and return to school.
A graduate transfer from Creighton, Mintz led the Wildcats in scoring (11.5 PPG) and assists (3.1 APG) in 2020-21 while also averaging 3.2 rebounds per game. This is the first time Kentucky is getting its leading scorer back since Randolph Morris in 2006-07.
Andrew Slater: 7’ Kofi Cockburn, who was a 2nd-team All-American & 1st-team All-Big 10, will enter the transfer portal, while keeping his name in the NBA Draft. @kxng_alpha , who averaged 17.7 points & 9.5 rebounds this season, is exploring all options. He can instantly elevate any program.
Jon Rothstein: Buffalo's Jeenathan Williams tells me that he will withdraw from the 2021 NBA Draft and return to school next season.
Jordan Hall is withdrawing from the 2021 NBA Draft and will return to Saint Joseph’s next season instead of transferring to Texas A&M, a source told College Hoops Today.
Jon Rothstein: Oregon's De'Vion Harmon tells me that he will withdraw from the NBA Draft process. Transfer from Oklahoma.
Jon Rothstein: Marcus Carr is expected to withdraw from the 2021 NBA Draft and return to college next season, per his mentor Vidal Massiah. Carr is also in the transfer portal and will be one of the highest sought after transfers if he decides to leave Minnesota.
Jeff Goodman: BREAKING: Ohio State guard Duane Washington Jr. Will not be returning to school and will keep his name in for the NBA Draft, he told @Stadium. Buckeyes go from Top 10 to Top 25 team — depending if EJ Liddell returns.
Sam Vecenie: Basically from the moment Washington played well in the G League Elite Camp, this was expected by Ohio State. After a good week in Chicago, Washington is seen by most NBA teams as a reasonable two-way contract player due to his shooting.
Jeff Goodman: Former Rutgers guard Jacob Young told @Stadium he will withdraw from the NBA Draft process and play at Oregon this season.
Michael Yero: Kameron McGusty announces that he’ll be returning to Miami. As for Isaiah Wong, he remains heavily undecided. He’s having a workout with the Cleveland Cavaliers today.
Jeff Goodman: Former Clemson guard Clyde Trapp told @Stadium that he has sent in the paperwork to withdraw from the NBA Draft process and play at Charlotte this coming season.
If Keve Aluma hears his named called in the NBA Draft, it won't be in 2021. The former Stephen Decatur athlete has withdrawn from this year's draft after declaring for the event in April.
Jeff Goodman: Winthrop’s D.J. Burns has decided to withdraw from the NBA draft process, he told @Stadium. Talented big man who helped lead the Eagles to the NCAA tourney last season.
Jeff Goodman: Stetson’s Christiaan Jones has withdrawn from the NBA draft process and will return to school, he told @Stadium.
Jeff Goodman: Marquette’s Dawson Garcia told @Stadium he has entered the transfer portal, and is still going through the NBA draft process. Would be a huge pickup if he opts to transfer elsewhere.
Keve Aluma, who entered the NBA Draft in April, is returning to the Virginia Tech men's basketball team. Aluma, who made the All-ACC second team as a fourth-year junior, said Thursday in a phone interview that withdrawing from the draft and rejoining the Hokies was a "pretty simple" decision. "It's not like I was all over the draft boards," he said.
Purdue said Thursday that center Trevion Williams has decided to withdraw from the NBA draft and will return to campus for his senior season this fall.
I spoke to Aaron Wiggins’ agent, Austin Walton, earlier this morning, and he mentioned that interest from NBA teams had increased significantly in recent days. He continued to explain to me that Wiggins and his family have decided to preserve his college eligibility in order to keep the door open for a return back to Maryland next season. However, if things keep trending up, and he is provided a certain level of assurance, it is certainly possible that Wiggins stays in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Jeff Goodman: North Carolina big man Armando Bacot will return to Chapel Hill and withdraw from the NBA Draft process, he told @Stadium.
Jon Rothstein: Matthew Mayer is returning to Baylor next season, per @DraftExpress. Was an early entry candidate to the 2021 NBA Draft. Will be a massive breakout guy in 21-22.
Kofi Cockburn recently had a workout with the Boston Celtics, and is continuing to improve his stock ahead of the 2021 NBA Draft on July 29th. The former Illini center also told us at WCIA, he’s not coming back for his junior year. “I’m sorry I won’t be coming back,” says Cockburn. “I’m 100% in now.”
Georgia Tech’s roster for the 2021-22 season will include the reigning ACC Tournament MVP. After declaring his intent to test NBA draft waters in late March, Yellow Jackets guard Michael Devoe announced his decision to come back Tuesday.
Jon Rothstein: Liberty's Chris Parker tells me that he has signed with an agent and plans to stay in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Kofi Cockburn, a 7-foot, 285-pound center, has done everything but come right out and say that he's remaining in the 2021 NBA Draft and won't be returning to Champaign. The Jamaica native made a post on Instagram on Tuesday with a heartfelt caption, signaling that his time with the Illini is over. "Extremely happy to have been apart of and represented a program like this, I enjoyed every single day I spent in Champaign and I am proud of the growth I had while I was there, words can't express how much I love the Illini and I wouldn't trade that part of my journey for the world," Cockburn wrote.
Liz Mullen: Mississippi State G D.J. Stewart Jr. has signed with @ISEBasketball for representation in the NBA Draft on- and off-the-court. NBA agent David Bauman is repping on the court. ISE agents Parker Cain & Travis King are repping him for marketing & all other endeavors.
Marc J. Spears: The NBA says 353 players -- 296 players from colleges and other educational institutions and 57 international players -- have filed as early entry candidates for NBA Draft 2021. The NBA Draft, which is on July 29, still only has 60 total selections. pic.twitter.com/mWDJWJQudP
Nebraska's Dalano Banton wants to test the NBA waters. The fifth-year junior guard announced Monday that he plans to declare for the NBA Draft. He will not hire an agent, which makes him eligible to return to college.
The 2021 NBA Draft scheduled to take place in late July is getting closer and the early entries list is slowly getting completed with many European talents showing up on it. Some of the more notable names that most recently entered include Yoan Makoundou, Tarik Biberovic, Nikos Chougaz, Ariel Hukporti, and Uros Trifunovic.
Baylor basketball's Jared Butler announced Sunday that he is declaring for the NBA draft after recently graduating from the university. The announcement comes as he graduated as a junior and still had two years left of eligibility.
Real Madrid’s Carlos Alocen has declared for the 2021 NBA draft, reports ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
Serbian-Croatian forward Mario Nakic has declared for the 2021 NBA draft, agent Misko Raznatovic tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
Another Raznatovic client is declaring for the draft, according to Givony, who tweets that 6’9″ Croatian wing Boris Tisma has entered the draft pool. Tisma, 19, played for Real Betis in the Spanish League this season, though he saw limited action.
From the time Georgia Tech forward Moses Wright declared his intent to enter the NBA draft, the possibility of him deciding to withdraw and come back for his second senior season was remote. It’s no longer merely a strong likelihood that he’ll stay in the draft, but a certainty, according to Tech coach Josh Pastner. “He’s all in,” Pastner told the AJC on Friday night. “Moses is going to stay in the draft.”
UCLA’s basketball roster remains in flux after redshirt junior forward Cody Riley and senior guard Chris Smith submitted their names for NBA draft consideration while preserving their ability to return next season.
Meanwhile, sophomore guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. has committed to returning to the team for at least one more college season, an athletic department spokesman said Friday.
Adam Zagoria: Isaiah Jackson of @KentuckyMBB will remain in the NBA Draft and forego his eligibility, per release
Michigan freshman center Hunter Dickinson has entered the NBA draft while giving himself the option of staying in school. Dickinson made the announcement on social media on Wednesday. Dickinson earned second-team All-America, Big Ten's Freshman of the Year and all-conference honors last season.
Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson is going to test the NBA waters but isn’t closing the door on a return to Ann Arbor. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year announced Wednesday that he is declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft. However, he is signing with an NCAA-certified agent that will allow him to maintain his college eligibility.
Adam Zagoria: Texas A&M transfer commit Jordan Hall will test the NBA Draft waters, per source.
Florida State senior guard M.J. Walker officially declared for the 2021 NBA Draft, announcing the decision on Thursday afternoon.
Dragan Jankovski: 01 born PG, member of German NT, Justus Hollatz declared for 2021 NBA Draft! #BeoBasket
Texas forward Greg Brown announced Thursday he is turning pro and won't return to the Longhorns for his sophomore season under new coach Chris Beard. Brown, who is ranked No. 29 in ESPN's top 100 draft prospects, was a top-10 recruit when he signed with Texas and former coach Shaka Smart.
Turkish power forward Alperen Sengun has submitted paperwork to make himself eligible for the 2021 NBA draft, as reported by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and later on confirmed by the player himself on his social media.
Khimki Moscow forward Vladislav Odinokov has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft as an early entrant, the player told Eurohoops. The 21-year-old Russian baller is looking to test the waters of the NBA draft and present his capabilities and potential to clubs.
Standout sophomore forward Justin Champagnie has signed with the Life Sports Agency and will enter the NBA draft, ending his college career, Champagnie confirmed Monday morning to the Post-Gazette.
Oral Roberts sophomore Max Abmas will enter the NBA Draft, sources told ESPN on Sunday. Abmas will maintain his college eligibility. "My plan is to enter the draft and get as much feedback as I can. I'm hoping to work my way into the first round or get some type of guaranteed contract to help me decide whether to stay in," said Abmas.
Misko Raznatovic: Dalibor Ilic, who was voted the 3rd top prospec of Champions league Fiba, declared for draft 2021! #BeoBeasket
Oral Roberts point guard Max Abmas led the country in scoring (24.2 points per game) and turned in a Stephen Curry circa 2008 NCAA tournament performance (26.6 ppg.) during a Sweet 16 run this season. His stock couldn't be higher. The 6'1" sophomore took a major step toward cashing in, declaring for the NBA Draft on Sunday. “I’m officially declaring, but I plan to retain my eligibility throughout the process,” Abmas told Sports Illustrated.
“I’m not sure whether I will enter the Draft. I want to play in the NBA, if not this year, then at least next year,” Princepal told Firstpost from Ohio, where he is training with Elevate X. “My contract with Ignite ended when the season was done. Maybe I’ll play for another G League team next year. Maybe I’ll play in the Summer League.”
After a high-performing junior season, UB forward Josh Mballa has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft. He made the announcement in an Instagram post on Thursday.
FIL-AM guard Remy Martin has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft. The 6-foot point guard announced the news on the Arizona State Sun Devils' social media accounts as he gets to pursue his long-awaited NBA dream.
Matt Haarms, the 7-foot-3 center, announced on Instagram Friday that he will not return to BYU, saying, “It is time for me to move into the next chapter of my life. After many conversations with those I trust, I have decided to forgo my final year of eligibility and enter the NBA draft.”
Malcolm Cazalon, Karlo Matkovic, and Kenan Kamenjas have declared for the 2021 NBA draft, their agent announced Friday.
John Rothstein: Former Arizona State forward Marcus Bagley tells me that his primary focus is on the 2021 NBA Draft. Bagley also recently entered the transfer portal. Averaged 10.8 PPG and 6.2 RPG last season.
Misko Raznatovic: Eurocup Rising star, Aleksander Balcerowski from Gran Canaria, declared for Nba draft 2021!
Misko Raznatovic: Danko Brankovic, 2000, center from Cibona, declared for Nba draft 2021!
University of Dayton point guard Jalen Crutcher announced on Twitter on Tuesday that he will declare for the NBA Draft. He said that he will forgo his extra year of eligibility and hire an agent ending his college career at UD.
Adrian Wojnarowski: University of Michigan sophomore forward Franz Wagner – the ninth-rated draft prospect in ESPN’s Top 100 – is entering the 2021 NBA Draft, he told ESPN. Wagner was the highest-rated player on ESPN’s board still unannounced for the July draft.
Kentucky guard Davion Mintz will test the draft waters and go through the NBA’s evaluation process, but is leaving the door open for a potential return to UK, the school announced this afternoon.
