By ADAM ZAGORIA
Creighton guard Baylor Scheierman will withdraw from the NBA Draft and play in the BIg East during the 2022-23 season, a source confirmed.
Scheierman, who recently transferred to Creighton from South Dakota State, joins Kentucky’s Keion Brooks and Baylor’s Matthew Mayer among high-profile players to withdraw from the draft. Both are also in the Transfer Portal.
“I think entering the portal and declaring for the draft, you have everything in play and ultimately can make the best decision for yourself,” the 6-foot-6 guard said last week at the NBA G League Camp in Chicago.
Scheierman announced May 2 he was transferring to Creighton from South Dakota State after also considering Arkansas, Clemson, Duke and Nebraska.
The reigning Summit League player of the year, Scheierman averaged 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 51 percent from the field and 47 percent from deep this past season for a Jackrabbits team that won 21 straight games before losing to Providence in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Scheierman led the Jackrabbits (30-6) with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the game.
“Obviously the home town but also their play style really fits how I can play,” he said last week of Creighton while at the NBA G League Camp in Chicago. “And I feel like I can come in and really just excel in their system.
“They have a really great team coming back and I feel like me coming in with them, it will make it even better.”
Creighton, which lost to Villanova in the Big East Tournament title game in March, should again be a major factor in the Big East and nationally with the return of Ryan Nembhard, Trey Alexander, Arthur Kaluma and Big East Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner. The Bluejays also bring in point guard Ben Shtolzberg, power forward Jasen Green and big man Fredrick King.
Scheierman was in Chicago trying to show NBA scouts that he can excel on both sides of the ball.
“I think the biggest thing is just defensively showing that I can compete and defend at this level,” he said. “I think offensively my game kind of speaks for itself in terms of film and what not. But I think specifically defensively is what I’m trying to show. “
Asked if he was looking for any type of guarantee from an NBA team, the 6-foot-6 sophomore from Aurora, Neb., said, “I think if I can get a guaranteed pick, not necessarily the first round, but first or second round.”
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