Let it be known that my role is not to advise anyone – players, agents, coaches – on what to do or not to do. I am primarily a member of the media and an analyst. Not a pocket observer. It is not my place to say or decide for anyone what is best for themselves. They are free to do, say and choose whatever they want.
However, as an analyst, my job involves a lot of tea leaf reading and projections. So, in the interest of breaking down the 2024 NBA Draft Combine last week in Chicago, my tea leaves have been read. I’ve updated my Big Board and will have a new draft later this week – but first, I bring you a timely update on all the prospects I think should return to school or face a difficult decision to stay or leave.
Again: I am not an advisor. And each player must consider their own circumstances when making these (often very difficult) decisions based on scholarship availability, NIL situation, potential draft slot, guaranteed money and development plan . No decision is made in isolation.
But we jump into the void and make some decisions after their combined performance. I landed on five players who should return to school and four whose decisions are too difficult to make from the decision desk at this hour.
Let’s go.
Players who should return to school
Hunter Sallis | SG | Wake Forest: Sallis curiously avoided participating in the combine scrimmages after successfully completing shooting drills. He’s in a range in the draft where he may or may not be in line to get a guaranteed contract in the early to mid-second round. Returning to school where he could likely win big as a potential All-American might be best, and another stellar year could further raise his stock to a spot closer to the first round.
Bronny James | SG | USC: Two things are true about Bronny: he had a great combination and he would probably benefit from going back to school. He would be determined to stay in the draft so maybe it’s moot – and I’d bet that if he does indeed stay, he’d be drafted somewhere between No. 30 and No. 50 – but an extra season in college could raise his stock significantly if he shows improvement from his first year and is growing. with the prospect that many expected him to be at USC.
Nique Clifford | SF | State of Colorado: I’m buying big on Clifford long term, but he had a mixed week at the combine with some good and some bad that mostly left his stock idle. The frame and shooting scheme suits him perfectly at the NBA level, so I would understand if he stayed. Going back to school and building off a breakout season last year at Colorado State might do him some good, though.
Jaxson Robinson | SG | BYU: Robinson had a career year at BYU last season averaging a career-high 14.2 points per game while shooting 35.4 percent from 3-point range in Mark Pope’s run and gun offense. He has since been linked to Kentucky and Pope now coaches the Wildcats. This could be a viable path for him after showing off his smooth shooting, but overall he blended into the crowd elsewhere during the week in Chicago. Legitimately tough decision to go back to school and challenge yourself to become an All-Conference player or hope to advance to the second round and get a guaranteed deal.
Payton Sandfort | SG | Iowa – It’s been a tough combination for Sandfort after generating potential first-round buzz earlier this week. He struggled shooting the ball, a concerning trend for a prospect qualified primarily as a shooter, and was never comfortable playing against his peers in scrimmages. It’s just one piece of the puzzle to consider during the process, of course, and playing well or poorly won’t make or break a player’s specific stock, but a return to school seems to be his best option.
Players hesitate when faced with difficult decisions
Justin Edwards | SF | Kentucky: Edwards ranked No. 1 on the CBS Sports Big Board entering the season after a stellar summer at Kentucky, but failed to live up to high expectations. There are still many who believe in talent and find it interesting as a developmental prospect, and he had just had enough Wow, Justin Edwards! Good! type moments throughout the week to make his decision difficult.
Alex Karaban | SF | CPU connection: I raise my hand to Karaban. One of the few whose choice to stay or leave leaves everyone perplexed. He could return to UConn and pick up a sack while establishing himself as one of the best to ever play for the Huskies. But he could have done enough – both over the last two seasons and at the Combine – to sneak into the first round. He is #31 on the Big Board and played very well all week while showing off his length and shooting.
JT Toppin | PF | New Mexico: One thing was very clear in Chicago last week: a plot of missed school on Toppin, one way or another. He had a great freshman season at New Mexico and looked like a future first-rounder in scrimmages. A very, very good player who may not have the buzz of being top 30 today, but has the tools to become one in the future. Another year in college could propel him to celebrity status.
Coleman Hawkins | PF | Illinois: I’ve seen dozens of Hawkins games over the years, but none had as much impact as his final day scrimmage. He was everywhere on both ends – active on defense, aggressive on offense. Still, it’s hard to overlook the years of evidence suggesting he might be something of a record-setting ball stopper on offense, who dribbles too much and may be more dependent on his fitness than some. I don’t have a very good idea of his stock, but late second or UDFA seems right to me. This is in the range where going back to school and getting a giant NIL bag might be more appealing to him.
News Source : www.cbssports.com
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