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Early Entry Breakdown: Five bad decisions

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Read through the rest of our Early Entry breakdowns here.

While there were a few no-brainers in regards to the 2012 NBA Draft, there were also some decisions that likely should not have been made.

Here are five of the worst decisions to enter June’s NBA Draft, with the offending parties looking at an uphill climb in their quest for an NBA paycheck.

1. G Erik Austin (Jackson Community College)

Austin played at Jackson CC during the 2010-11 season and it doesn’t look as if he had a major impact during his short stint there.

Not sure where Austin ends up getting paid to play (if at all), or where he’s been playing since his time at Jackson, but this decision is downright mystifying.

2. G DAngelo Williams (Notre Dame de Namur)

This is a clear example of a decision made solely with the goal of getting paid to play by some league no matter where.

In 19 games Williams averaged 4.8 points and 1.9 rebounds per game with just one start, meaning that the goal of getting paid to play somewhere could be a reach.

3. G Richard Townsend-Gant (Vancouver Island University)

After two seasons at Coffeyville (KS) JC, Townsend-Gant spent a year at VIU and apparently that’s good enough to declare for the draft. Townsend-Gant averaged 17.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for VIU this season, earning first team All-Pac West honors.

Maybe he can land a spot in Canada’s professional league, which is finishing up its first season of play, but an NBA roster would be a serious long shot.

4. C Peter Roberson (Grambling State)

Roberson is a 7-footer so he’s got that going for him. But with averages of 7.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game the junior would have been better served to return for his senior season.

Roberson did post a triple-double in the Tigers’ 86-44 loss at Arkansas on November 26 (12 points, ten rebounds and ten blocks), but a man of his size shooting 38.5% from the field in two seasons of play tends to not hear his name called on draft day.

5. G Raymond Taylor (Florida Atlantic)

Taylor is definitely a talented player, as he leaves FAU with a career total of 1,037 points. But at 5-6 Taylor will find himself at a disadvantage when it comes to getting to the NBA.

But as noted above, some enter their names with the goal of getting paid to play period as opposed to ending up under the bright lights of the NBA.

Photo credit: Texas Tech University (Peter Roberson)

Raphielle is also the assistant editor at CollegeHoops.net and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.