Big 12 basketball: NBA decision recap
May 30, 2018
The NCAA’s early-entry deadline has passed, with collegiate players having made their decisions on whether to stay for another season of college or take their chances in the NBA Draft.
The Big 12 landscape shifted a lot with the decisions that players in the conference have made over the past two months. Predictions on where teams will finish in 2018/19 can be made later on, but for now, let’s look at how teams were impacted by the draft process:
Baylor: No non-senior athletes in the NBA Draft process.
Iowa State: Lindell Wigginton announced he’ll return to Ames for a sophomore season on Wednesday.
Kansas: Lagerald Vick declared for the NBA Draft in April. Vick was the fifth-highest scorer for the Jayhawks, averaging 12.1 points per game. Against the Cyclones, Vick scored eight points in the first meeting and 16 points in the second matchup. Vick is projected to go undrafted.
Malik Newman hired an NBA agent in April, solidifying himself in the NBA Draft pool. Newman was the third-highest scorer last season for Kansas, averaging 14.2 points per game. Against Iowa State, Newman scored 27 points and eight rebounds in January. In February, Newman dropped 17 points and six rebounds. Newman is projected to be the 44th pick in the draft by The Ringer.
Billy Preston failed to appear in any games for the Jayhawks, but Preston spent time playing in Bosnia this season. Preston is ranked No. 73 in Sports Illustrated’s top 100 prospects.
Kansas center Udoka Azubuike removed himself from the NBA Draft before the deadline. Azubuike averaged 13 points and seven rebounds last season. Azubuike scored nine points and six rebounds against Iowa State in January. He bounced back in the second meeting, scoring 19 points and three rebounds.
Kansas State: Barry Brown decided to return for a senior season. Brown was the second-leading scorer for the Wildcats, contributing 15.9 points per game. Against the Cyclones, Brown exploded for 21 points in December. In February, Brown scored 20 points to help complete the season sweep of Iowa State.
Oklahoma: Trae Young declared for the NBA Draft after completing one of the top freshman seasons last year. Young averaged 27.4 points per game for the Sooners. Young tallied a double-double in Oklahoma’s first game with Iowa State, scoring 22 points and dishing 11 assists. Young scored 15 points at home against the Cyclones. Young is expected to be a lottery pick.
Oklahoma State: Tavarius Shine declared for the NBA Draft in April with one year of eligibility left. Shine averaged 9.7 points per game. Against Iowa State, Shine contributed 15 points and eight rebounds in the first game. In the second meeting, Shine contributed eight points and three boards. Shine is projected to go undrafted.
Yankuba Sima is leaving the Cowboy program after averaging 3.7 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game last season. Sima scored five points and grabbed six rebounds in two games against Iowa State last season. Sima is projected to go undrafted.
TCU: No non-seniors in the NBA Draft process.
Texas: Mo Bamba declared for the NBA Draft after his lone collegiate season. Bamba averaged 12.9 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game. Bamba contributed a double-double in his first game against Iowa State, scoring 10 points with 16 rebounds. In the second meeting, Bamba added another double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Bamba sat out for the Big 12 Tournament game against Iowa State. Bamba is projected to be a top-10 pick in the draft.
Eric Davis Jr. declared for the NBA Draft after the season. Davis Jr. averaged 8.8 points per game in 2017-18. Against Iowa State, Davis Jr. scored 15 points with five rebounds in the first meeting. Next, Davis Jr. scored 11 points against the Cyclones. In the Big 12 Tournament, Davis Jr. sat out against Iowa State. Davis Jr. is projected to go undrafted.
Kerwin Roach will return to Austin for his senior season. Roach averaged 12.3 points per game last season. Against Iowa State, Roach had four points in the first game. In the second meeting, Roach went off for 22 points. In the Big 12 Tournament, Roach contributed nine points, seven assists and six boards against the Cyclones.
Texas Tech: Zhaire Smith declared for the NBA Draft after his freshman season. Smith averaged 11.3 points and 5.0 rebounds a game. Against Iowa State, Smith had 10 points and two rebounds in the Red Raider’s loss to the Cyclones. In the second meeting, Smith put 21 points on the scoreboard with eight rebounds. Zhaire Smith is expected to be a first round pick, with The Ringer projecting him to go 18th.
West Virginia: Esa Ahmad decided to return to the Mountaineers for a senior season. Ahmad averaged 10.2 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game. Against Iowa State, Ahmad had 17 points and eight rebounds in Ames. In Morgantown, Ahmad contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Sagaba Konate also returned to West Virginia. Konate averaged 10.8 points per game and totalled 116 blocks last season. Against Iowa State, Konate scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds. In the second meeting, Konate had 14 points and nine rebounds.