Wherever you stand on Dan Hurley and UConn, the longtime basketball coach has a valid point when it comes to the NBA Draft.
Hurley, visiting with the Dan Patrick Show on Thursday, opened up about his thoughts on the upcoming draft and how “the biggest mistake you can make right now as a college basketball player is going to the draft too early.” Like several blue-blood coaches, Hurley doesn’t have a clear picture on just how many guys he can expect back next season.
The Big 12 could have anywhere between 15 and 20 different players in the upcoming NBA Draft, scheduled for June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. How many of those potential picks could benefit from another year in college, and are they making a mistake by declaring for the draft?
Houston freshmen Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr. have each declared for the draft already. Kansas star center Flory Bidunga has declared for the draft while also putting his name in the transfer portal to weigh his options at both levels.
Projected first-round picks AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Darryn Peterson (Kansas) – two more freshman stars with heavy critical acclaim – haven’t officially announced their plans yet but are likely to follow with the interest as high as it is.
Arizona, a team with multiple draft projections, has received just one official declaration from veteran guard Jaden Bradley. Freshman forward Koa Peat, Freshman guard Brayden Burries, and junior center Motiejus Krivas all have high-order potential.
How many of these freshmen should be in the draft? It’s hard to disagree with the idea that Flemings, Dybantsa or Peterson all have legitimate professional aspirations. And that’s not a knock on the other guys, either, it’s just a timing thing. It’s likely to be a splash year for the Big 12 in the draft regardless, but Hurley makes a valid point about just how many folks can develop – and earn real cash – at the college level.
But it’s the times, and what can coaches do other than offer the best advice they can to young players that’ve grown up wanting nothing else but to see the league.
