Early Entrants

• swamisez

  

  Deuce and Quincy play in the high school conf I work in. Those two are good players. Not necessarily winners but great players. Baylor will be a difficult guard come November.
  
  As for Murphy idk if Daniels decision is indicative of his early enroll. I wouldn't think they are tied together.
• GOONx19

  

  Knight's mom said that he's made up his mind. Certainly doesn't help end any of the speculation.
• SportsAndLady

  

  swamisez;745169 wrote:As for Murphy idk if Daniels decision is indicative of his early enroll. I wouldn't think they are tied together.

  
  There will be 3 5-star players vying for the 3 spot for Duke...at Kansas he would be a starter right away.
• Azubuike24

  

  The deadline to announce is Sunday, and with this being Easter weekend and most kids likely heading home to see their families on Friday (if not earlier), I'd think we will hear from the Kentucky players today or tomorrow.
  
  Then again, the real deadline to pay attention to is May 8th. There are a ton of guys who may return in the next couple of weeks after talking to NBA people and getting more information on what they think the lockout might bring. Don't be shocked if even some NBA executives tell some of these guys to return and come out next year, especially teams who aren't guaranteed to pick top 5. If there is no season, I highly doubt teams will want to end up wasting picks on potentially risky mid-RD1 picks.
  
  Guys like Ashton Gibbs, Tu Holloway, Kim English, Terrence Jennings, Shelvin Mack, Klay Thompson, Jordan Williams, etc...all should come back just looking at the names. Others too.
• Laley23

  

  Jones, Knight and Liggins enter draft, no agent.
  
  http://www.lex18.com/news/three-cats-declare-for-nba-draft-but-none-hire-an-agent
• Azubuike24

  

  My gut says Knight 90% staying in, Jones probably 50/50 to return and Liggins maybe 80% to return. Then again, sometimes, the fans and the media never know all of the facts surrounding these decisions.
  
  The more I think about it however, Jones is the most critical of the three to return IMO. UK will be thin in the front court if he stays in the draft. That won't be as bearable given the amount of talent some of the other teams in the country return up front as opposed to this year where it was possible to get away with it.
• centralbucksfan

  Azubuike24;745850 wrote:My gut says Knight 90% staying in, Jones probably 50/50 to return and Liggins maybe 80% to return. Then again, sometimes, the fans and the media never know all of the facts surrounding these decisions.
  
  .

  
  Your being way too optimistic. If you read their comments..my money says all three are gone. I definately don't see Jones returning. He role could even be more diminished than it was late in the season. And he knows that. Liggins could return..but I just get the feeling he is seeing whats coming in next year as well.
• namod65

  

  centralbucksfan;745895 wrote:Your being way too optimistic. If you read their comments..my money says all three are gone. I definately don't see Jones returning. He role could even be more diminished than it was late in the season. And he knows that. Liggins could return..but I just get the feeling he is seeing whats coming in next year as well.

  
  I'd expect nothing less from the guy who said he'd be "shocked" if Kanter wasn't eligible after he had already been declared ineligible.
• Azubuike24

  

  Liggins' situation is really about family and age. He's 22. He is engaged. He has a 1-year old child. He's not going to be a first rounder, in-fact, he's probably a mid-late 2nd rounder this year or next. His situation is the toughest to project because it really doesn't have anything to do with basketball. It could be he's completely done with school, wants to make money playing basketball (whether in the D-League or overseas) or he's simply taking the free evaluation and making contacts with the intent of returning.
  
  Jones' situation is definitely debateable because his stock slipped as the year went on, but it rose a bit at the end of the year as he showed other dimensions of his game. There's a consensus out there that he does have the goods to maintain lottery status even with a strong draft next year, evidenced by many of the guys who are returning Jones was projected with or ahead of them at one point this year anyway. He could conceivably improve his stock, especially since his role will be the same or expanded next year with the loss of Harrellson. Then again, he may be happy with a top 15 pick with the outside shot of the top 5-10 depending on what type of showing he has.
  
  Knight's situation, using logic and also looking at all factors, has no reason to come back. He would share the PG duties with Marquis Teague and the SG duties with Doron Lamb, and his role would definitely be less next year if he returns. He's also nearly guaranteed to go in the top 10, possibly top 5, so there isn't much room for improvement there.
  
  Like I said, I'll stick with my 90/10, 50/50 and 20/80 predictions to leave.
• cats gone wild

  Knight should leave, but Jones went from one of the top players in the beginning of the year to a name that wasnt mentioned much for top bball players. 50 cent might as well stay. I think another year for him would help him out. He was really starting to come on strong. But, I dont see any coming back, Liggins is the only hopeful.
• mallymal614

  mallymal614;743640 wrote:My preseason top 5
  
  1. North Carolina
  2. Ohio State
  3. Kentucky
  4. Texas
  5. Duke

  Hearing the news about the Kentucky players entering the draft. Now my preseason top 5 is.
  
  1. North Carolina
  2. Ohio State
  3. Texas
  4. Kentucky
  5. Duke
  
  Only switching them with Texas. The wildcats still bring in 4 all-americans but I have the other schools ahead of them because they got all-american recruits too plus more experienced players returning.
• centralbucksfan

  Azubuike24;745921 wrote:Liggins' situation is really about family and age. He's 22. He is engaged. He has a 1-year old child. He's not going to be a first rounder, in-fact, he's probably a mid-late 2nd rounder this year or next. His situation is the toughest to project because it really doesn't have anything to do with basketball. It could be he's completely done with school, wants to make money playing basketball (whether in the D-League or overseas) or he's simply taking the free evaluation and making contacts with the intent of returning.
  
  Jones' situation is definitely debateable because his stock slipped as the year went on, but it rose a bit at the end of the year as he showed other dimensions of his game. There's a consensus out there that he does have the goods to maintain lottery status even with a strong draft next year, evidenced by many of the guys who are returning Jones was projected with or ahead of them at one point this year anyway. He could conceivably improve his stock, especially since his role will be the same or expanded next year with the loss of Harrellson. Then again, he may be happy with a top 15 pick with the outside shot of the top 5-10 depending on what type of showing he has.
  
  Knight's situation, using logic and also looking at all factors, has no reason to come back. He would share the PG duties with Marquis Teague and the SG duties with Doron Lamb, and his role would definitely be less next year if he returns. He's also nearly guaranteed to go in the top 10, possibly top 5, so there isn't much room for improvement there.
  
  Like I said, I'll stick with my 90/10, 50/50 and 20/80 predictions to leave.

  
  Agree with all of the above and that is exactly why I think they leave. Liggins stock may not be as high as it is now. And as I mentioned in another thread, his role could even be more diminished next year. Although Jones has slipped..I think he sees the samething. I mean his role already dimished as the season went on. With the talent UK has coming in, I can't help but believe he has that in the back of his mind as well.
  Knight, in similar situation as you mentioned above.
  I could certainly be wrong, but if you put yourself in their shoes...you can certainly see how they might be leaning towards leaving more than staying.
• bucks36

  

  mallymal614;746177 wrote:Hearing the news about the Kentucky players entering the draft. Now my preseason top 5 is.
  
  1. North Carolina
  2. Ohio State
  3. Texas
  4. Kentucky
  5. Duke
  
  Only switching them with Texas. The wildcats still bring in 4 all-americans but I have the other schools ahead of them because they got all-american recruits too plus more experienced players returning.

  
  Tristan Thompson gone. Speculation Hamilton also leaving. Drop Texas out of top 25.
• bucks36

  

  mallymal614;746177 wrote:Hearing the news about the Kentucky players entering the draft. Now my preseason top 5 is.
  
  1. North Carolina
  2. Ohio State
  3. Texas
  4. Kentucky
  5. Duke
  
  Only switching them with Texas. The wildcats still bring in 4 all-americans but I have the other schools ahead of them because they got all-american recruits too plus more experienced players returning.

  
  Tristan Thompson gone. Drop Texas out of top 25.
• mallymal614

  bucks36;747520 wrote:Tristan Thompson gone. Speculation Hamilton also leaving. Drop Texas out of top 25.

  
  Wow!
  
  I thought he said he was staying?
• mallymal614

  bucks36;747521 wrote:Tristan Thompson gone. Drop Texas out of top 25.

  
  Cory Joseph too! http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/news/story?id=6408508
  
  Once again.......WOW!
• Midstate01

  

  Can't blame them. One year with barnes and they knew to gtfo while they can!!
• Azubuike24

  

  Michigan's Darius Morris hiring an agent and not returning...
  
  Big loss for Michigan next year. Possible Big Ten favorites or picked to finish 2nd. Now, Ohio State is an overwhelming favorite...
• centralbucksfan

  UK Brandon Knight staying in draft as well. No surprise. I look for Jones and Liggins to follow as well.
• Azubuike24

  

  I think Knight's decision does seal Lacey to UK. Jones appears to be deciding tomorrow. Liggins is working out in New Jersey on Saturday, so probably hear from him at the end of the weekend.
• Azubuike24

  

  Well some good news. Terrence Jones withdraws from the draft and will return for his Sophomore season.
• ironman02

  Good decision by Jones, in my opinion. I would think Liggins will also announce his return tomorrow, setting up what should be an epic battle between Carolina and UK at Rupp next season. Those two teams, now that we know what they will look like next season, have to be national title front runners as well.
• Azubuike24

  

  You would have possibly 10 first round picks and 13 McDonald's All-Americans on the court...
• Azubuike24

  

  Tobias Harris and Scotty Hopson of Tennessee will stay in the draft. So will Shelvin Mack of Butler.
• ironman02

  Azubuike,
  
  Any truth to the talk of Liggins staying in the draft? Sounds like he had great workouts this weekend and may have heard some good things from NBA people. He could definitely benefit from another season in college, but you also couldn't really blame him for leaving if that's what he does do.