Melancer46
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Looking at freshman that put their names in the draft pool and then ultimately withdrew in recent years (dating back to 2016):So this should be easy then for the resident NBA scouts ... how many players have stayed in school for an extra year to come back, increase their draft stock from a marginal 2nd rounder/UFA, and capitalized on that to get a better draft slot, avoid the G league and slide into a 8-10 year job.
There have been 5 players to withdraw from the draft and ultimately get selected in the first round later on as far as I can tell:
- Tre Mann
- Quentin Grimes
- Obi Toppin
- PJ Washington
- Caleb Swanigan
A few recent examples that went the other way:
- Rawle Alkins - I believe was projected to go around with Judah currently is, maybe earlier. Ultimately returned for his sophomore season and went undrafted.
- Jontay Porter - He was a projected 1st round pick. Ultimately returned to school and went undrafted.
- Yet to be drafted, but Terquavion Smith was a projected 1st round pick last year and is currently all over the place; the consensus big board has him at #29 right now but I've seen reputable mocks with him dropping as far as the 50s. Likewise, Harrison Ingram was on the fringe of the first round last year and has now transferred to UNC to try to rebuild his draft stock after showing modest at best improvements this season.
- Marcus Bagley was a projected late 1st or early 2nd round pick after his freshman season; after returning, he has played in 5 games the last two years and I do not believe he is really viewed as a draftable prospect anymore.