Comings & Goings: Early Entry Madness
Posted by rtmsf on April 12th, 2010Lots of goings today…
- Syracuse all-american forward Wes Johnson will enter the NBA Draft after one season with the Orange. He burst onto the national scene with two scintillating performances in Coaches vs. Cancer games versus California and UNC at Madison Square Garden, and for a few fleeting moments in November and early December he was considered the frontrunner for NPOY. Prior to February injuries to his back and shooting hand, Syracuse was playing as well as anyone in the country. He will sign with an agent, a good move considering that he will likely become a high lottery pick in June. He also expects to graduate later this summer.
- UNC forward Ed Davis will also enter the NBA Draft. After a superb freshman campaign where he was a key contributor to the 2008-09 national championship Tar Heels, Davis had an up-and-down sophomore year that ended with a broken wrist suffered in a game against Duke. He averaged 13/9/3 blks per game prior to that injury, but there was a lingering feeling among folks that he could be doing more with his ample athletic gifts. Nevertheless, he is still viewed as a lottery pick in the draft. Finally, remember the flap about Davis supposedly signing with an agent back in February? Trust us, today’s news shocked nobody.
- It’s draft day for forwards apparently, as West Virginia’s Devin Ebanks also declared his intention to go pro today. The 6’8 swing player who averaged 12/8 in his sophomore year really distinguished himself as an elite defender this season, and could probably play at the next level on that talent alone for many years. Mock drafts have Ebanks falling into the middle of the first round at this point. He plans to sign with an agent.
- In a mild surprise, Purdue center JaJuan Johnson is reportedly planning to announced that he too will enter this year’s NBA Draft but he will not sign with an agent, leaving the door open for a return to school next season. Boiler Nation awaits his final decision (by May 8) with baited breath. Unless JJJ is dead-set on going pro, he’s a likely candidate to return because most experts have him as a late first-rounder at this point.
- Mountain West POY and New Mexico guard Darington Hobson also plans on evaluating himself over the next few weeks before making a final decision as to whether to enter the draft, as ESPN.com reports that he will make a formal announcement tomorrow. He has some work to do, as he’s considered a second rounder by most experts, and could stand to spend another season honing his game (particularly strength) in Las Cruces.
- Memphis guard Elliot Williams‘ strong sophomore season (18/4/4 assts) has resulted in his decision to declare for the draft today as well. We suppose it was not only a good decision to leave Duke for his family concerns but also for his professional career — he is projected as a mid-first rounder.
- Finally, Illinois junior guard Demetri McCamey also declared today, but he is expected to be only testing the waters as he will not sign with an agent. He is currently projected as a late first/early second round pick.
Another going involves two Missouri players — Miguel Paul and Tyler Stone — who are transferring out of the program. Neither player saw much run for Mike Anderson, averaging sixteen minutes per game combined in 2009-10. With the spring signing period starting later this week, we’re sure Anderson has a couple of athletic replacements already in mind.
It’s not a coming or a going, rather a staying, but Mississippi State’s Rick Stansbury has reportedly turned down the Clemson job vacated by Oliver Purnell. This is interesting given that the ACC is more prestigious in basketball than the SEC West, but Stansbury has built a solid program in Starkville and he may have the services of Renardo Sidney next year at his disposal.
