Going, Going, Gone: 2018 NBA Draft Early Entry

[NSDukeFan]

You don't need to test the waters when the lake is frozen.

You do if you’re going skating. (You’re welcome for the northern perspective).

[dukelifer]

I doubt Bolden would get a combine invite, so there’s really no point in entering his name. I think there’s a misconception that anybody in the world can enter the draft and NBA teams will give them a free evaluation. If you’re not good enough to get a combine invite, teams aren’t going to waste their time with you.

Next years draft is going to be weak. Bolden is one of a few talented bigs. He is better off letting his play next year speak for itself. I expect Bolden to have an excellent year. His play will have a lot to do with Duke’s success.

[Saratoga2]

I doubt Bolden would get a combine invite, so there’s really no point in entering his name. I think there’s a misconception that anybody in the world can enter the draft and NBA teams will give them a free evaluation. If you’re not good enough to get a combine invite, teams aren’t going to waste their time with you.

He isz 6'11". have an NBA frame and is at least somewhat athletic. Players like him don't grow on trees. He might actually get an invite but his draft stock is not likely to be high on the NBA list.

[Troublemaker]

I'm kind of surprised that Bolden isn't testing the waters (at least not yet). I expect him back next year, but the system of being able to declare w/o an agent and come back was set up to help players. Making use of the experience could be a smart idea for him.

Givony (ESPN) wrote an article a few weeks about how there are drawbacks to "testing the waters." It's not as no-risk all-reward as many college fans seem to believe.

The key excerpt:

The draft process is a vastly different experience for players testing the waters and those fully committed to declaring in terms of the type of training they receive, the communication they are allowed to have with agents and teams, and the seriousness with which their candidacy is taken by NBA executives. Playing at the combine can be a humbling experience, undressing a player's weaknesses for all to see. Since the new early-entry rules were instituted, only one player (Pascal Siakam, No. 27 pick in 2016) who participated in the combine while testing the waters went on to be picked in the first round that year.

He isz 6'11". have an NBA frame and is at least somewhat athletic. Players like him don't grow on trees. He might actually get an invite but his draft stock is not likely to be high on the NBA list.

Well, whatever the case may be -- I've been on the "frozen waters" side of things for awhile now -- the mystery, such as it is, ends at 11:59pm ET tonight, the deadline for early entry.

I don't expect Duke to release a statement that Marques is not declaring. (That would've saved some folks from unnecessary stress, imo.)

[Neals384]

No word from Bolden, so he's staying!

[arnie]

No word from Bolden, so he's staying!

Really happy he’s staying. Should be a breakout year for Marques and with Javin, O’Connell and possibly White in the rotation, reasonable depth and experience for next season.

[UrinalCake]

The stress isn’t necessarily over, as some fans will continue to be paranoid about transfers, leaving for the G-League/overseas, injuries, alien abductions, etc.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

The stress isn’t necessarily over, as some fans will continue to be paranoid about transfers, leaving for the G-League/overseas, injuries, alien abductions, etc.

Bolden leaving via transfer would be very strange. Would further delay his goal of playing in the NBA.

Not saying it is impossible, but it would be confusing.

[JasonEvans]

I could be wrong, but I believe this is the full list. 133 names in all. 49 of them have stated that they are signing with an agent and have no intention of returning to school.

SF Deng Adel, junior
G Rawle Alkins, sophomore
F/C Kostas Antetokounmpo, freshman
F/C Deandre Ayton, freshman
C Udoka Azubuike
F/C Marvin Bagley III, freshman
G LiAngelo Ball, freshman
C Mohamed Bamba, freshman
PF Keita Bates-Diop, redshirt junior
G/F Leron Black, redshirt junior
G Brian Bowen
G Ky Bowman, Boston College
SG Jordan Brangers, sophomore (JuCo)
G Mikal Bridges, junior
F Miles Bridges, sophomore
G Barry Brown, junior
G Bruce Brown, sophomore
PG Tookie Brown, junior
G Troy Brown Jr., freshman
G Elijah Bryant, junior
G/F Jordan Caroline, redshirt junior
PG Tony Carr, sophomore
G Kameron Chatman, redshirt junior
G Haanif Cheatham, junior
PF Yoeli Childs, sophomore
PG Chris Clemons, junior
PF Tyler Cook, sophomore
PF Isaac Copeland Jr., redshirt junior
PG Jon Davis, junior
SG Terence Davis, junior
C Tyler Davis, junior
G Eric Davis Jr., junior
F Marcus Derrickson, junior
PF Noah Dickerson, junior
G Donte DiVincenzo, sophomore
F Dikembe Dixson, sophomore
G Torin Dorn, junior
PG Trevon Duval, freshman
G Nojel Eastern, freshman
PG Carsen Edwards, sophomore
PG Jon Elmore, junior
F/C Drew Eubanks, junior
G/F Jacob Evans, junior
C Bruno Fernando, freshman
SG Jarrey Foster, junior
SF Robert Franks, junior
SG Melvin Frazier, junior
C Harry Froling, sophomore
F Wenyen Gabriel, sophomore
PG Eugene German, sophomore
G Tyler Hall, junior
PG Jaylen Hands, freshman
F/C Ethan Happ, junior
G Mustapha Heron, sophomore
G Aaron Holiday, junior
G Jalen Hudson, redshirt junior
C Dewan Huell, sophomore
G Kevin Huerter, sophomore
PG Tramain Isbell, redshirt junior
SG Deangelo Isby, junior
F/C Jaren Jackson Jr., freshman
G/F Justin James, junior
G Zach Johnson, junior
F Kevin Knox, freshman
C Sagaba Konate, sophomore
G/F Terry Larrier, redshirt junior
G Kalob Ledoux, sophomore
SG Fletcher Magee, junior
G Charles Matthews, junior
SF Caleb Martin, redshirt junior
SF Cody Martin, redshirt junior
C Matur Maker, high school
C Brandon McCoy, freshman
F Jalen McDaniels, freshman
F Jack McVeigh, junior
PG De'Anthony Melton, sophomore
F/C Chimezie Metu, junior
PG Shake Milton, junior
F Elijah Minnie, redshirt junior
PG Shelton Mitchell, junior
C Doral Moore, junior
F Juwan Morgan, junior
F Takal Molson, freshman
F Max Montana, junior
PG Matt Morgan, junior
G Isaiah Moss, sophomore
G Malik Newman, redshirt sophomore
SG Josh Okogie, sophomore
G Renathan Ona Embo, sophomore
G James Palmer Jr., redshirt junior
F Ajdin Penava, junior
PG Lamar Peters, sophomore
PG Shamorie Ponds, sophomore
PF Jontay Porter, freshman
F Michael Porter Jr., freshman
PG Marcquise Reed, junior
C Trayvon Reed, redshirt junior
PG Kerwin Roach, junior
G/F Jerome Robinson, junior
SG Quinton Rose, sophomore
G Brandon Sampson, junior
G Corey Sanders, junior
G/F Admiral Schofield, junior
PG Landry Shamet, sophomore
Chris Silva
G Anfernee Simons, high school
G Fred Sims, junior
F David Skara, junior
G/F Zhaire Smith, freshman
F Ray Spalding, junior
F Omari Spellman, freshman
G Max Strus, freshman
G Deshon Taylor, redshirt junior
PG Khyri Thomas, junior
F Reid Travis, junior
SG Gary Trent Jr., freshman
G Allonzo Trier, junior
F Jarred Vanderbilt, freshman
G/F Lagerald Vick, junior
G Christian Vital
G Lonnie Walker, freshman
PF Nick Ward, sophomore
SF P.J. Washington, freshman
G Quinndary Weatherspoon, junior
SG Nick Weatherspoon, freshman
G Andrien White, junior
PF Demajeo Wiggins, junior
PG Lindell Wigginton, freshman
SF Kris Wilkes, freshman
C Robert Williams, sophomore
PG Justin Wright-Foreman, junior
PG Trae Young, freshman
C Omer Yurtseven, sophomore

[Troublemaker]

The stress isn’t necessarily over, as some fans will continue to be paranoid about transfers, leaving for the G-League/overseas, injuries, alien abductions, etc.

True, but now we've gotten over the hump, so to speak. If there's a surprise from here, it's more likely an addition to the roster (re-class, grad transfer [even though we've never done that] than a subtraction.

[Dr. Rosenrosen]

Bolden leaving via transfer would be very strange. Would further delay his goal of playing in the NBA.

Not saying it is impossible, but it would be confusing.

Yeah but DBR suffers from terminal paranoia. What else are folks to do until the fall?

[UrinalCake]

I could be wrong, but I believe this is the full list. 133 names in all. 49 of them have stated that they are signing with an agent and have no intention of returning to school.

Givony’s list includes international players, who could go undrafted and still continue playing overseas. There are now more than three times as many players as there are draft spots. Even considering guys who will go undrafted and pursue free agent contracts, there are going to be a lot of disappointed players.

AEE39536-4668-4AE2-98DD-0D3B462F88CD.jpg

[CrazyNotCrazie]

I could be wrong, but I believe this is the full list. 133 names in all. 49 of them have stated that they are signing with an agent and have no intention of returning to school.

SF Deng Adel, junior

C Omer Yurtseven, sophomore

I follow college basketball more closely than most people and I haven't heard of many of these players - I definitely can't tell you what school a number of them went to. You could have inserted Art Vandelay in there and I don't think anyone would have noticed.

[devildeac]

Yeah but DBR suffers from terminal paranoia. What else are folks to do until the fall?

May I politely suggest:

http://forums.dukebasketballreport.c...?3840-Ymm-Beer

What'd ya expect?

[Rich]

I follow college basketball more closely than most people and I haven't heard of many of these players - I definitely can't tell you what school a number of them went to. You could have inserted Art Vandelay in there and I don't think anyone would have noticed.

DBR's very own? http://forums.dukebasketballreport.c...on-quot-Thread

[ArtVandelay]

I follow college basketball more closely than most people and I haven't heard of many of these players - I definitely can't tell you what school a number of them went to. You could have inserted Art Vandelay in there and I don't think anyone would have noticed.

I'm offended by this.

[left_hook_lacey]

Luke Maye entering the draft(or testing the waters). Guess that's not overly shocking. Doubt he goes, or even gets a combine invite.

[jamos14]

Luke Maye entering the draft(or testing the waters). Guess that's not overly shocking. Doubt he goes, or even gets a combine invite.

Agree. Maye is not an NBA player.

[FerryFor50]

I follow college basketball more closely than most people and I haven't heard of many of these players - I definitely can't tell you what school a number of them went to. You could have inserted Art Vandelay in there and I don't think anyone would have noticed.

Maybe we should add schools next to the name.

Here you go! (had to look up many of them myself, even when the name was familiar)

SF Deng Adel, junior - Louisville
G Rawle Alkins, sophomore - Arizona
F/C Kostas Antetokounmpo, freshman - Dayton (related to Giannis and Thanasis... I bet that was a hard family to feed)
F/C Deandre Ayton, freshman - Arizona
C Udoka Azubuike - Kansas
F/C Marvin Bagley III, freshman - Duke (duh)
G LiAngelo Ball, freshman - formerly of UCLA
C Mohamed Bamba, freshman - Texas
PF Keita Bates-Diop, redshirt junior - Ohio State
G/F Leron Black, redshirt junior
G Brian Bowen - South Carolina, formerly of Louisville
G Ky Bowman, Boston College
SG Jordan Brangers, sophomore (JuCo)
G Mikal Bridges, junior - Nova
F Miles Bridges, sophomore - Mich St
G Barry Brown, junior - Kansas State
G Bruce Brown, sophomore - Miami
PG Tookie Brown, junior - Georgia Southern
G Troy Brown Jr., freshman - Oregon
G Elijah Bryant, junior - BYU
G/F Jordan Caroline, redshirt junior - Nevada
PG Tony Carr, sophomore - Penn St
G Kameron Chatman, redshirt junior - Detroit
G Haanif Cheatham, junior - FGCU, by way of Marquette
PF Yoeli Childs, sophomore - BYU
PG Chris Clemons, junior - Campbell
PF Tyler Cook, sophomore - Iowa
PF Isaac Copeland Jr., redshirt junior - Nebraska, by way of Georgetown
PG Jon Davis, junior - UNCC
SG Terence Davis, junior - Ole Miss
C Tyler Davis, junior - Texas A&M
G Eric Davis Jr., junior - Texas
F Marcus Derrickson, junior - Georgetown
PF Noah Dickerson, junior - Washington
G Donte DiVincenzo, sophomore - Nova
F Dikembe Dixson, sophomore - Illinois-Chicago
G Torin Dorn, junior - NCSU
PG Trevon Duval, freshman - Duke
G Nojel Eastern, freshman - Purdue
PG Carsen Edwards, sophomore - Purdue
PG Jon Elmore, junior - Marshall
F/C Drew Eubanks, junior - Oregon St
G/F Jacob Evans, junior - Cincy
C Bruno Fernando, freshman - Maryland
SG Jarrey Foster, junior - SMU
SF Robert Franks, junior - Wash St
SG Melvin Frazier, junior - Tulane
C Harry Froling, sophomore - Marquette
F Wenyen Gabriel, sophomore - Kentucky (a bit surprised by this... thought he was Alex Poythress 2.0. Must be sick of Calipari misusing him)
PG Eugene German, sophomore - N. Illinois
G Tyler Hall, junior - Rhode Island
PG Jaylen Hands, freshman - UCLA
F/C Ethan Happ, junior - Wisconsin
G Mustapha Heron, sophomore - Auburn
G Aaron Holiday, junior - UCLA
G Jalen Hudson, redshirt junior - Florida
C Dewan Huell, sophomore - Miami
G Kevin Huerter, sophomore - Maryland
PG Tramain Isbell, redshirt junior - Drexel
SG Deangelo Isby, junior - Utah St
F/C Jaren Jackson Jr., freshman - Mich St
G/F Justin James, junior - Wyoming
G Zach Johnson, junior - FGCU, but this says he's transferring to Miami
F Kevin Knox, freshman - Kentucky
C Sagaba Konate, sophomore - WVU
G/F Terry Larrier, redshirt junior - UConn
G Kalob Ledoux, sophomore - McNeese St
SG Fletcher Magee, junior - Wofford
G Charles Matthews, junior - Michigan
SF Caleb Martin, redshirt junior - Nevada (by way of NCSU)
SF Cody Martin, redshirt junior - Nevada (by way of NCSU)
C Matur Maker, high school (Thon's lil bro)
C Brandon McCoy, freshman - UNLV
F Jalen McDaniels, freshman - San Diego St
F Jack McVeigh, junior - Nebraska
PG De'Anthony Melton, sophomore - USC
F/C Chimezie Metu, junior - USC
PG Shake Milton, junior - SMU
F Elijah Minnie, redshirt junior - E Mich
PG Shelton Mitchell, junior - Clemson
C Doral Moore, junior - Wake
F Juwan Morgan, junior - Indiana
F Takal Molson, freshman - Canisius
F Max Montana, junior - San Diego St
PG Matt Morgan, junior - Cornell
G Isaiah Moss, sophomore - Iowa
G Malik Newman, redshirt sophomore - Kansas
SG Josh Okogie, sophomore - Georgia Tech
G Renathan Ona Embo, sophomore - Tulane
G James Palmer Jr., redshirt junior - Nebraska (a lot of Nebraska players on this list... you'd think with so much "NBA talent" they'd have won more than 22 games)
F Ajdin Penava, junior - Marshall
PG Lamar Peters, sophomore - Miss St
PG Shamorie Ponds, sophomore - St Johns
PF Jontay Porter, freshman - Mizzou
F Michael Porter Jr., freshman - Mizzou
PG Marcquise Reed, junior - Clemson
C Trayvon Reed, redshirt junior - Auburn
PG Kerwin Roach, junior - Texas
G/F Jerome Robinson, junior - BC (if BC loses both Ky and Jerome... welcome back to the basement)
SG Quinton Rose, sophomore - Temple
G Brandon Sampson, junior - LSU
G Corey Sanders, junior - Rutgers
G/F Admiral Schofield, junior - Tennessee
PG Landry Shamet, sophomore - Wichta St
F Chris Silva, junior - South Carolina
G Anfernee Simons, high school
G Fred Sims, junior - Chicago St
F David Skara, junior - (uh, what?) Clemson
G/F Zhaire Smith, freshman - Texas tech
F Ray Spalding, junior - Louisville dumpster fire
F Omari Spellman, freshman - Nova
G Max Strus, freshman - DePaul
G Deshon Taylor, redshirt junior - Fresno St
PG Khyri Thomas, junior - Creighton
F Reid Travis, junior - Stanford (interesting... thought he'd be a grad transfer)
SG Gary Trent Jr., freshman - Duke
G Allonzo Trier, junior - Arizona
F Jarred Vanderbilt, freshman - Kentucky
G/F Lagerald Vick, junior - Kansas
G Christian Vital - UConn
G Lonnie Walker, freshman - Miami
PF Nick Ward, sophomore - Mich St
SF P.J. Washington, freshman - Kentucky
G Quinndary Weatherspoon, junior - Miss St
SG Nick Weatherspoon, freshman - Miss St (already pulled his name out tho)
G Andrien White, junior - UNCC
PF Demajeo Wiggins, junior - Bowling Green
PG Lindell Wigginton, freshman - Iowa St
SF Kris Wilkes, freshman - UCLA
C Robert Williams, sophomore - Texas Tech (thanks for spanking UNC for us!)
PG Justin Wright-Foreman, junior - Hofstra
PG Trae Young, freshman - Oklahoma
C Omer Yurtseven, sophomore - NCSU

[FerryFor50]

Luke Maye entering the draft(or testing the waters). Guess that's not overly shocking. Doubt he goes, or even gets a combine invite.

I dunno. I doubted he was a college player, but he surprised me. And I think he has more skill than Tyler Hansbrough, who carved out a decently long NBA career. Maye reminds me of a smaller Kevin Love - good rebounder, good passer, not overly athletic, good shooter.