The NBA’s deadline to declare for the NBA Draft came and went at midnight on Sunday night. The NBA released the names of the 44 college players that declared for the draft. We already knew 40 of them. Here is the complete list. (Click the link to read our story about each player declaring):
Behanan was kicked off of the Louisville basketball team back in December. “Away from the lines, he just did not do the right things over and over and over,” Rick Pitino said at the time. Behanan, spending some time at John Lucas’ facility in Houston, committed to play at Colorado State for Larry Eustachy, who also spent time with Lucas to deal with substance abuse issues.
1. UCLA: The Bruins got crushed by early entry decisions this spring, losing three guys to the draft despite the fact that none of the three are close to being a lock for the first round. It was not a surprise that Kyle Anderson went pro. That decision was made public before the season even started. What was surprising, however, was that Zach LaVine made the decision to declare for the draft. He’s a 6-foot-5 guard and as explosive of a leaper as you will find, but he seemingly made up his mind to head to the professional level after a great start to the season despite the fact that he played terribly down the stretch.
Losing LaVine hurt, but the real blow was Jordan Adams. Adams had a chance to be a first-team all-american if he returned to school, and initially he did make the decision to come back for his junior season. But late on Saturday night, news broke that Adams had changed his mind and he announced that he was leaving for the NBA. With Adams back, UCLA was a top 15 team. With Adams and LaVine, they might have been a top ten team. Without either, they’re going to enter the season as a borderline top 25 team.
2. Syracuse: I’ll tell you what, Jim Boeheim and his coaching staff are just too good at developing point guards right now. Tyler Ennis was forced into a starting role this past season after Michael Carter-Williams blew up as a sophomore, and Ennis thrived. He entered the draft and will likely get picked in the lottery, leaving the Orange with, once again, just a single point guard on their roster, freshman Kaleb Joseph. The Orange also lost Jerami Grant to the NBA despite the fact that he’s looking at potentially being a second round pick. The Orange might not be a top 25 team is 2014-2015.
3. Michigan: Nik Stauskas was an all-american this past season, and while losing him to the draft hurts, it was the expected outcome for the last two months. Glenn Robinson III wasn’t much of a shock, either. It was more surprising that he returned to school for this past season. With Derrick Walton, Caris LeVert and Zak Irvin on the roster, the Wolverines can withstand the loss of those two. What they can’t withstand, however, is Mitch McGary going pro thanks to a positive drug test during the NCAA tournament. Losing McGary will leave Michigan without any kind of imposing size in the middle.
4. Missouri: The Tigers saw both Jabari Brown and Jordan Clarkson declare for the draft, which, when combined with the departure of head coach Frank Haith (a decision likely spurred on by those two draft decision), will leave the Tigers in a position where they are rebuilding. It may be for the best in the long-term, as the momentum that Haith had built at Missouri was gone, but it likely makes the Tigers an NIT team for next year.
5. UNLV: The Runnin’ Rebels lost both Khem Birch and Roscoe Smith to the NBA Draft, leaving them without one of the biggest, most athletic front court duos on the west coast. They weren’t all that effective in earning wins last season, as UNLV missed out on the NCAA tournament, but it means that head coach Dave Rice will once again be counting on talented-but-unproven youngsters next year.
Five more losers
New Mexico: With Kendall Williams and Cameron Bairstow graduation, Craig Neal needed Alex Kirk to anchor his team as he transitions into a new era. Instead, Kirk graduated and left for the NBA.
Colorado: The Buffaloes were a top 20 team if Spencer Dinwiddie returned. He didn’t.
Indiana: The Hoosiers are likely looking at another trip to the NIT as they lost Noah Vonleh, a top ten pick, to the NBA.
N.C. State: The Wolfpack had to expect that T.J. Warren would be heading to the NBA Draft after the way that he played down the stretch of the season, but that won’t change the fact that it hurts losing a guy that could score the way Warren can.
Xavier: The Musketeers lost Semaj Christon to the NBA despite the fact that he likely ends up being a second round pick.
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Kentucky, Wisconsin headline 2014 NBA Draft Early Entry Winners
1. Kentucky: It sounds weird to say this, I know, but the Kentucky lost two lottery picks, including a guy that will go top five in the NBA Draft, and they were clearly the biggest winner during the entire early entry circus. It started with Willie Cauley-Stein, who announced that he would be returning to school after undergoing surgery on his ankle. He was a potential lottery pick. Then Marcus Lee returned. Then Alex Poythress and Dakari Johnson came back. And, lastly, both of the Harrison twins returned to school.
Five were expected to declare off of Kentucky. Only two did. The key? The Harrisons, who will provide the Wildcats with perimeter depth and justify yet another preseason No. 1 ranking.
2.Wisconsin: The Badgers made a bit of a surprising run to the Final Four in 2014, and they did it as Frank ‘The Tank’ Kaminsky turned into an unstoppable force. His size and ability to score from anywhere on the court made him one of the breakout stars of the NCAA tournament, and while he flirted with the idea of putting his name into the draft, he will return. So will Sam Dekker, who is a potential first round pick at the small forward spot. As a result, the Badgers are going to be the Big Ten favorites and a top five team in 2014-2015.
3. Louisville: Outside of the Harrison twins announcing that they would be returning to school, the single most important early entry decision was Montrezl Harrell’s announcement that he would be back for his junior season. A potential lottery pick, Harrell is going to be the only veteran — and only physical presence — on a big and athletic-albeit-extremely young front line. He makes the Cardinals a Final Four contender. Without him, they’re a borderline top 25 team.
4. Arizona: Aaron Gordon was never spending more than one season on campus. Nick Johnson left and that void will hurt although it wasn’t all that much of a surprise that he went pro. The good news? Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski all will be back on campus next season, and as a result Sean Miller will once again have a top five team and the Pac-12 favorite at his disposal.
5. North Carolina: The Tar Heels lost James Michael McAdoo to the NBA, but they also kept him for two years longer than just about anyone expected. They came out ahead there. The bigger news is that not only did Marcus Paige return for his junior season, but Brice Johnson did as well. With the recruiting class that Roy Williams brings in this season, don’t be surprised to see the Tar Heels give Louisville and Duke a run for their money at the top of the ACC next season.
Three more winners
Utah: Delon Wright’s decision to return to Utah for his senior season will give him a shot at being an all-american in 2014-2015 and will allow the Utes to be a top four team in the Pac-12.
Oregon: Joseph Young flirted with leaving for the NBA, but ultimately he returned. He may end up leading the Pac-12 is scoring this season.
West Virginia: Juwan Staten was a hidden gem at the point guard spot this past season thanks to the play of Marcus Smart and DeAndre Kane. He’ll be an all-Big 12 first team player entering next season.
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Larry Eustachy: ‘My feeling is Chane is going to go pro’
“Chane is a great kid. He’ll do fine in the NBA. From Day One, I thought this was a possibility. We took a shot.”
Earlier this week, Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv reported that Chane Behanan had hired an agent and was planning on declaring for the NBA Draft.
Behanan was kicked off of the Louisville basketball team back in December. “Away from the lines, he just did not do the right things over and over and over,” Rick Pitino said at the time. Behanan, spending some time at John Lucas’ facility in Houston, committed to play at Colorado State for Larry Eustachy, who also spent time with Lucas to deal with substance abuse issues.
LSU freshman forward Jordan Mickey announced on Wednesday afternoon that he will be returning Baton Rouge for his sophomore season.
Mickey was one of the best freshmen in the country for much of the season, averaging 12.7 points, 7.9 boards and 3.1 blocks, the latter of which was good for ninth nationally.
Mickey has a 7’1.5″ wingspan and is a terrific athlete, but as of right now he’s a shot blocker that stands a shade under 6-foot-8. He doesn’t have a jump shot and he doesn’t have a post move, which is not a good combination.
Mickey is projected as the No. 36 pick in the 2015 draft by Draft Express.
This news is huge for LSU, however, especially if Jarell Martin keeps his name out of the draft as well. The Tigers have already lost Johnny O’Bryant to the NBA this offseason, but with the rest of their roster intact, they have the pieces to put together a run to the NCAA tournament next season. Don’t be surprised to see them slotted right behind Kentucky and Florida as the third-best team in the conference in the preseason.
