NBA Draft Withdrawal Deadline Approaching

       There's just three days remaining until the NBA's May 8th withdrawal deadline for prospects to either declare, forfeit their collegiate eligibility and sign with an agent or return to school for another year of college basketball. The big thing going for prospects is the NBA's first-ever "early" workout for those testing the waters to see where they stand. The workout with be in New Jersey on Saturday and Sunday (May 7th and 8th). Stocks can be made or broken with injuries, conditioning concerns or poor shooting/sloppy play or on the opposite end, a killer jump shot or dominating low-post presence.

NBA Prospects With The Most To Lose

        There's not too many of these and the field will likely grow even weaker over the days leading up to the workout. It's understandable that players with lottery or mid-first round hopes like Kawhi Leonard, Kenneth Faried, and even Tobias Harris would decline the invite and we'll get those seniors with four-years of experience a pass like Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler, JaJuan Johnson and Charles Jenkins, but it's baffling that some of the other talent would decline. I'm pointing fingers are Jereme Richmond, Josh Selby, Jordan Williams- those guys all have the potential to make the climb into the first round, but also could slip even further into the second round depending on the performance put forth.

        Reggie Jackson, a combo-guard from Boston College, will probably be advised to not participate in this workout given his status as a first-rounder right now. He's really the only prospect who could seemingly drop some spots, but all of the others are second round talent fighting for the 30 spots in that round.

NBA Prospects With the Most To Gain

        After signing with an agent a few days ago, Terrence Jennings, has a lot to lose. He's a tremendously athletic big who seemed to fit well in Rick Pitino's up-tempo system, but was too raw to make much of an impact inside. Staying in the Big East, Ben Hansbrough, is tough, gritty guard with the perimeter and ball-handling skills to play point guard at the next level, but just like his brother, he's not an elite athlete. On the wing, Ravern Johnson, Justin Holiday, and Scotty Hopson could make their way into the early second round doing what they do best- that's knocking down outside shots for Johnson and Hopson and showing off his versatility for Holiday. Inside on the low blocks, Greg Smith and Reggie Johnson have the size to make an impact in the NBA with their big, wide frames, but have lacking making a notable impact at the collegiate level. They each have questions, Johnson with his conditioning and Smith with his motor.


By President Corey Ruff - 5-5-11