With 57 players withdrawing from the NBA Draft and returning to college, some schools are primed for big campaigns in the 2016-17 season. Other schools lost important players by Wednesday’s deadline and could face struggles ahead.
Here’s a list of 10 winners and 5 losers coming off the early entry withdrawal deadline. The NBA Draft is June 23 at Barclays Center.
WINNERS
OREGON – The Ducks got not one, but two players back who tested the waters. Dillon Brooks averaged 16.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a sophomore, and is primed for a huge junior campaign. He’s currently projected at No. 38 in the 2017 Draft by DraftExpress.com, but figures to move up significantly. Freshman guard Tyler Dorsey averaged 13.4 points and 4.3 rebounds. With both guys back in the fold, expect Oregon to be the team to beat in the Pac-12.
VILLANOVA — All the experts thought Josh Hart should return to campus and in the end he and his 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game did. Kris Jenkins, he of the game-winning 3-pointer in the NCAA championship game, is also back, along with a slew of returning players (look out for Mikal Bridges) and a great recruiting class (hello Omari Spellman). It’s no surprise Hart told me he thinks the Wildcats could potentially become the first team since Billy Donovan’s Florida Gators (2006 and ’07) to repeat as national champs. “So I definitely think we have a chance to repeat, that’s definitely going to factor into my decision,” Hart told me at the NBA Combine. “That’s definitely something I’m flirting with.”
UCONN — There wasn’t much of an NBA market for 7-foot center Amida Brimah or 6-4 guard Rodney Purvis, but both guys will be back for Kevin Ollie’s team. Brimah is now projected at No. 56 in 2017 by DraftExpress.com. UConn should be in contention for an AAC title and an NCAA Tournament bid next season with the return of Brimah and Purvis, along with rising sophomore guard Jalen Adams and VCU transfer Terry Larrier. The Huskies also add a strong recruiting class, led by McDonald’s All-American point guard Alterique Gilbert.
NORTH CAROLINA — Justin Jackson and Kennedy Meeks both tested the waters, and both wisely opted to come back and play for Roy Williams. After averaging 12.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists, the 6-8 Jackson could be poised for a breakout year in his junior season. With Brice Johnson now gone, Meeks (9.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and 6-8 Isaiah Hicks should have expanded roles, while Joel Berry II and Nate Britt will emerge sans Marcus Paige.
KENTUCKY — Yes, the Wildcats will lose Marcus Lee to transfer, but they get back rising sophomore guard Isaiah Briscoe, the former Roselle (N.J.) Catholic star. You have to figure Briscoe will be motivated to continue to improve his shooting and have a big year after getting a taste of the NBA via workouts with several teams. It remains unclear how the backcourt rotation will work with Briscoe playing alongside studs De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk, but John Calipari will probably figure it out. The Cats also lost out on Marques Bolden (to Duke), but return Derek Willis, Isaac Humphries and Tai Wynyard and bring in three bigs, led by Bam Adebayo, a potential 2017 lottery pick.
MARYLAND — Sophomore point guard Melo Trimble went right up against Wednesday’s midnight deadline before making the smart choice and opting to return to campus. On Thursday, the Terps also picked up 6-8 Class of 2016 small forward Justin Jackson, a former UNLV commit and potential future pro. Somewhere, Mark Turgeon is smiling. The Terps lost Robert Carter Jr., Jake Layman and Diamond Stone, but have more than enough now to play a small-ball attack with a motivated Trimble leading the way.
XAVIER — Trevon Bluiett was among the Big East players to test the waters and, like Josh Hart, he returns to lead Chris Mack’s club after working out for several NBA teams. His return means that Xavier should once again be one one of the top teams in the Big East and the nation. Xavier also returns Edmond Sumner, Myles Davis, JP Macura, Ra’Shid Gaston, Kaiser Gates and Sean O’Mara and adds Eddie Ekiyor, Quentin Goodin and Tyrique Jones.
INDIANA — Yes, Troy Williams opted to remain in the Draft and signed with Andy Miller, as did Seton Hall’s Isaiah Whitehead and Syracuse’s Malachi Richardson. But James Blackmon Jr. returns and Thomas Bryant never even tested the waters. The Hoosiers now have a ton of guards with Blackmon Jr., Robert Johnson, Josh Newkirk, Curtis Jones and Devonte Green.
N.C. STATE — Beejay Anya and Abdul Malik Abu weren’t at the top of anybody’s NBA Draft boards, but both bigs are back. Abu had hinted he might transfer or sign with an agent, but will return to campus. The Wolfpack also add stud point guard Dennis Smith Jr. and added 7-foot Turkish star Omer Yurtseven.
PURDUE — Freshman big man Caleb Swanigan is back after testing the waters and is now projected at No. 26 in 2017. Rising juniors Vince Edwards (11.3 ppg) and Isaac Haas (9.8 ppg) also return.
LOSERS
PROVIDENCE – You can make the case that no team lost more this offseason than Providence. Kris Dunn was gone to the NBA anyway — and is a projected Top-5 pick — but as Ben Bentil’s stock rose across a season in which he became the Big East’s leading scorer, so did the chances he would bolt for the NBA. And that’s exactly what happened. Providence now must replace both Bentil (21.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and the do-it-all Dunn (16.4 ppg, 6.2 apg, 5.3 rpg).
SETON HALL – Much like Bentil, Isaiah Whitehead saw his stock rise dramatically over the second half of the season as he spearheaded Seton Hall to wins over Providence and No. 5 Xavier in February, and then to victories over Creighton, Xavier and No. 3 Villanova to win the Big East Tournament championship. Seton Hall will still be solid in 2016-17 with the returns of rising juniors Khadeen Carrington, Desi Rodriguez, Angel Delgado and Ismael Sanogo and the additions of Myles Powell and Eron Gordon. But with Whitehead, the Pirates could have been poised for a deep March Madness run in 2017.
SYRACUSE – Freshman shooting guard Malachi Richardson rode the wave of Syracuse’s Final Four run — highlighted by his 23-point outburst in the Elite 8 win over Virginia — to signing with agent Andy Miller. Syracuse will still be good with the additions of 7-foot-2 Paschal Chukwu, transfer John Gillon and wings Matthew Moyer and Tyus Battle combined with the returns of Frank Howard, Tyler Lydon, Tyler Roberson and Dajuan Coleman. But who knows how far Syracuse could go with Richardson back in the fold?
LOUISVILLE – Damion Lee and Trey Lewis were only on campus for one year anyway, but when the 6-10 Chinanu Onuaku opted to turn pro, Rick Pitino’s club lost its third overall scorer (9.9 ppg) and leading rebounder (8.5 rpg).
USC –– Andy Enfield’s club lost both Julian Jacobs and Nikola Jovanovic to the Draft after both tested the waters. It remains to be seen what exactly these guys were thinking.
NWith 57 players withdrawing from the NBA Draft and returning to college, some schools are primed for big campaigns in the 2016-17 season. Other schools lost players by Wednesday’s deadline and could face struggles.
