The deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from the 2016 NBA Draft is Wednesday. More than a dozen players remain publicly undecided. The following is a list of the ones who matter most to the sport with predictions, based on conversations with various sources, on what they'll ultimately decide.
JAMES BLACKMON (INDIANA)
PREDICTION: Returns to school
UPDATE: Blackmon on Wednesday morning withdrew from the NBA Draft.
Blackmon is an undersized guard coming off of an injury. So he's choosing between going unselected and returning to IU to maybe lead the Hoosiers in scoring (and to another Sweet 16). Seems like an easy decision.
ISAIAH BRISCOE (KENTUCKY)
PREDICTION: Returns to school
UPDATE: Briscoe announced Wednesday morning that he's returning to Kentucky.
Briscoe's plan all along, like most heralded Kentucky recruits, was to spend one year in college before bouncing to the NBA. Problem is, he's likely not in a position to be drafted this year because he's a shooting guard who shot just 13.5 percent from 3-point range as a freshman.
DILLON BROOKS (OREGON)
PREDICTION: Returns to school
UPDATE: Brooks on Wednesday morning withdrew from the NBA Draft.
Brooks was fabulous last season while leading the Ducks to 31 wins and a Pac-12 title. But that doesn't mean he's likely to be drafted. And the most sensible option, unless he's just in a rush to earn a paycheck, is to return to Oregon, improve his jumper, be the Pac-12 POY and try again next year.
TYLER DORSEY (OREGON)
PREDICTION: Returns to school
UPDATE: Dorsey on Wednesday morning withdrew from the NBA Draft.
Dorsey won't be picked if he remans in the NBA Draft. So there's no reason for him to stay in unless he's just tired of college and comfortable playing in the D-league and/or outside of this country.
JOSH HART (VILLANOVA)
PREDICTION: Returns to school
UPDATE: Hart announced Tuesday night that he is returning to Villanova.
Hart wouldn't be picked in the first round and might not go in the second either. So he's weighing an uncertain pro future against the opportunity to return to Villanova, be an All-American and compete for icon status as the rare player to lead his team to back-to-back national titles.
NIGEL HAYES (WISCONSIN)
PREDICTION: Returns to school
UPDATE: Hayes announced Tuesday night that he is returning to Wisconsin.
Hayes was once projected as a lottery pick. But that's not the case now -- not after he shot 29.3 percent from 3-point range as a junior. Simply put, there's no obvious reason for Hayes to sell so low when he could do one more year at Wisconsin, show he's a versatile forward who can actually shoot, and make money via a senior season like Denzel Valentine and Buddy Hield did.
MARCUS LEE (KENTUCKY)
PREDICTION: Returns to school
UPDATE: Lee announced Wednesday afternoon that he's withdrawing from the NBA Draft. However, he will not return to Kentucky. He's going to transfer to another Division I school.
Could Lee get caught in a numbers game if he returns to Kentucky, where three five-star frontcourt players are set to enroll? Yes. But the alternative to doing another year of school probably doesn't involve the NBA. So Lee will likely be back in Lexington even if he'd prefer to be a professional.
MALIK NEWMAN (MISSISSIPPI STATE)
PREDICTION: Remains in draft
UPDATE: Newman's father told the Clarion-Ledger that his son is withdrawing from the NBA Draft. But it's unclear if he'll actually remain at Mississippi State.
Newman was a five-star prospect out of high school who never imagined spending more than one year in college. But his stock plummeted at Mississippi State similarly to the way Josh Selby's did during his one year at Kansas, and for lots of the same reasons. Still, it's often hard for prospects to turn around when they've had their minds set on something. So, like Selby, Newman seems likely to leave college after one year to pursue an uncertain pro career.
CHINANU ONUAKU (LOUISVILLE)
PREDICTION: Remains in draft
UPDATE: Rick Pitino on Wednesday afternoon announced that Onuaku is remaining in the NBA Draft.
That Louisville coach Rick Pitino has said he thinks Onuaku is gone suggests Onuaku is gone. He nearly averaged a double-double in 24.6 minutes per game. Going in the first round isn't out of the question.
CALEB SWANIGAN (PURDUE)
PREDICTION: Returns to school
UPDATE: Swanigan announced Wednesday afternoon that he is returning to Purdue.
Sources believe Swanigan is very much up in the air. Could go either way. But there's no indication that remaining in the NBA Draft will result in a guaranteed NBA contract. And, for that reason, there's no obvious reason for the 6-9 freshman to leave Purdue.
MELO TRIMBLE (MARYLAND)
PREDICTION: Returns to school
Trimble badly wants to remain in the NBA Draft, if only because once he decided to return for his sophomore year he never planned for a junior year. But the point guard was unimpressive at the combine and is at risk of going unselected if he remains in. And, I think, he's smart enough to realize that.
ISAIAH WHITEHEAD (SETON HALL)
PREDICTION: Remains in draft
UPDATE: Whitehead announced Tuesday night that he is remaining in the NBA Draft.
Whitehead was tremendous for Seton Hall in the second half of the Big East schedule. And though there's a chance he could return to school and be an All-American, most seem to believe he's more interested in taking a shot at the NBA now than returning to Kevin Willard's program.
TROY WILLIAMS (INDIANA)
PREDICTION: Remains in draft
UPDATE: Williams announced Tuesday night that he is remaining in the NBA Draft.
Williams falls into the category of somebody who seems determined to never spend another day playing college basketball, for better or worse. He's a good athlete who could become a capable shooter. Even if he goes unselected, it will surprise nobody if he is, at some point, on an NBA roster.
