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Not too many snubs from the NBA’s Draft Combine

Renardo Sidney

Mississippi State’s Renardo Sidney (1) dunks during the first half of the their NCAA college basketball game with Mississippi in Starkville, Miss., Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012. (AP Photo Jim Lytle)

AP

The NBA has released their list of the 60 players invited to the Draft Combine in Chicago the weekend of June 7th and 8th.

That list, in its entirety, can be found right here.

And while it is tough to nitpick with who was invited to the combine, it is easy to point out the notable names that will be watching from home with the rest of us.

Perhaps the most notable name that won’t be invited to the combine is Renardo Sidney. Sidney didn’t necessarily get snubbed, for what it’s worth. When you have the off-the-court issues that Sidney does -- attitude problems, nationally televised fights, an atrocious worth ethic, you name it -- it’s not exactly a good sign when you show up to a workout for NBA teams weighing 304 pounds with a body fat percentage at 22.35% and look “slimmed down”. The reason Sidney’s fall is notable is that he went from arguably the best prospect in the country five or six years ago to a guy that isn’t even considered one of the top 60 players in his draft class.

That’s sad.

What’s sadder, however, is that one of the nation’s best kept, mid-major secrets won’t get a chance to showcase his ability at the combine. Long Beach State’s Casper Ware has long been one of the most dynamic scorers in the country, an ability he showcased as he won the MVP in LA’s storied Drew League last summer. He may be small, but in a year where the point guard class is fairly weak, I thought Ware would have gotten an invite. The same can probably be said about Jordan Taylor, and while I think he has less of a chance of becoming an NBA point guard than does Ware, it is still a bit of a surprise to see an all-american left off the list.

A couple of other notable names left off the list:

- Ashton Gibbs very nearly went pro after his junior season at Pitt. He opted to return, and still couldn’t play his way into the NBA Combine.

- Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek left Villanova with a year of eligibility remaining. Neither of them were invited. I bet Jay Wright wouldn’t complain about having them back for next season.

Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @robdauster.