With NIL and revenue sharing coming to college athletics this summer, the decision of whether to enter the NBA Draft has become more complicated for players who are good enough to be considered but are not guaranteed to be picked in the first round. The NCAA Tournament has traditionally been Here’s a look at 10 players who will have a difficult decision to make later this spring.
Isaiah Evans, 6-foot-6 freshman, Duke
Draft range: 20-35
Evans was a five-star recruit and is far from a polished product. He comes off the bench for No. 2 Duke and has been hot and cold all season long. When he does get going, Evans’ pro potential and upside is on display. In the last five games he has averaged 15.4 points and has attempted 39 three-pointers. Duke has the No. 1 recruiting class coming in next season led by Cameron and Cayden Boozer and if Evans finishes on a high note, he could convince NBA teams to take a chance on him as a Brandon Ingram-esque threat from behind the arc.
Recommendation: GO
Carter Bryant, 6-foot-8 freshman forward, Arizona
Bryant has been on the radar of NBA scouts for a couple years but has had an underwhelming season at Arizona (6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game). With the money that can be made at the college level, it would be smart for Bryant to return for his sophomore season and develop. He has great size and is a threat in the pick-and-pop but he hasn’t consistently put together a a clear picture of what kind of pro he can be. Bryant will most likely test the waters and receive feedback from teams but he will have to convince them that he can do a lot more than he has shown this season.
Prediction: STAY
Danny Wolf, 7-foot junior forward, Michigan
Draft range: 25-40
Wolf is a hot name among NBA scouts. The versatile big is averaging 12.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. His passing out of double teams might be his most impressive attribute. He has increased his touches at Michigan over his two years at Yale. Because of his mobility, Wolf fits the desired prototype of a modern NBA big, making him an intriguing prospect. If a team has an established roster, Wolf can slide into the secondary unit for rim protection and floor spacing. For rebuilding teams, he can play a supporting role for ball-dominant guards.
Prediction: GO
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Kwame Evans Jr., 6-foot-9 sophomore forward, Oregon
Draft range: 40-Undrafted
Hopes were high for Evans heading into his sophomore season but unfortunately he hasn’t panned out. Evans got stronger over the summer and had promising moments in the first half of the season. The Ducks are currently 21-8 and 8th in the Big Ten with Evans averaging just 6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He has great positional size and passes the eye test as a NBA wing but his best bet is to stay an extra year and really come back strong his junior season.
Prediction: Stay
Jase Richardson, 6-foot-3 freshman guard, Michigan State
Draft range: 15-35
Richardson has been a spark for the Spartans and is one of the toughest guards in the Big Ten. Michigan State sits atop the conference rankings and on most nights, Richardson is the most impactful player on the court. The oldest son of Jason Richardson, Jase elected to follow in his father’s footsteps and play for the same coach, Tom Izzo. What the Hall of Fame coach has been able to get out of Richardson this year has been incredible. Richardson’s passing is elite, he finishes well through contact and his shot selection has improved over the course of the season.
Prediction: GO
Jeremiah Fears, 6-foot-4 freshman guard, Oklahoma
Draft range: 12-30
Fears was one of the hottest names in the first two months of the season when Oklahoma started out 13-0. His draft buzz has cooled a little bit but he is still in great position. Fears is averaging 15.9 points and 4.1 assists per game and is one of the toughest guards, physically and mentally, in college basketball. His court vision is beyond his years and he excels at changing speeds in the open court. There will be plenty of people who will say Fears needs another year or development, but all it takes is one team to be a first-round pick. Fears needs to capture the momentum while he has it.
Prediction: Go
Khaman Maluach, 7-foot-2 freshman center, Duke
Draft range: 15-35
Outside of Cooper Flagg, there are not a ton of front court players with exceptional rim-protection upside and size. Maluach, a 7-2 freshman, has had sparks this season as a promising NBA center but still has so much potential to grow into whether that’s timing offensively off the lob or leaving his feet too early on shot fakes. Because this draft class is so guard heavy, Maluach would be smart to keep his name in and a team that can be patient and develop him a bit more will be the one willing to take a chance on him.
Prediction: Go
Drake Powell, 6-foot-6 freshman wing, North Carolina
There are a few NBA teams that have loved Powell’s potential since the Nike Skills Academy Camp last August, but his production has been low. Many scouts believe Powell has not been utilized well at North Carolina. He is only averaging 7.3 points and 3.4 rebounds and has only shown his potential in limited amounts. This might be a case of a player who will excel better in NBA spacing as opposed to the more crowded college game, but Powell has been a head scratcher for scouts who are trying to figure out where he fits in this year’s draft class.
Prediction: Stay
Labaron Philon, 6-foot-4 freshman guard, Alabama
Draft range: 20-35
Philon has consistently shown his two-way potential as a combo guard. He came in as an underrated prospect but his defensive versatility and quick-twitch offensive footwork have catapulted him into a first round consideration. The fact that Philon can co-exist in the backcourt with ball-dominant guards and still find ways to be productive is an attribute a lot of NBA teams are looking for in a young guard. Philon is coming off a tough loss to Tennessee but he was the best defensive guard on the court. On the season he is averaging 13 points, five steals, four assists and only two turnovers.
Prediction: Go
Joson Sanon, 6-foot-5 freshman guard, Arizona State
Sanon entered his freshman year as a top-25 recruit and was known as a volume scorer and in high school. Arizona State has struggled this season with injuries and chemistry issues. Sanon has been up-and-down but just had his best game of the season in a loss to Utah on March 1, when he put up 28 points and shot 4-for-5 from three-point range. It was a nice moment during a frustrating season. In a draft that is very guard-heavy, Sanon would be smart to get more consistency before trying to turn pro.
Prediction: Stay
