[jwplayer 18QegcJn-sNi3MVSU]
Mountain West Basketball: NBA Draft Update
Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire
Let’s take a look at where some of our favorite MW stars stand going into June.
As the world of sports seeks to get back to business as “normal” worldwide after coming to a sudden halt in late March, the NBA is tasked with rescheduling their current season, free agency, and all draft-related activities in the coming months.
The anticipated early entrant withdrawal date on Wednesday, June 3rd has been pushed back like many other draft related deadlines. There hasn’t been any mention of a new deadline, but the NCAA said it would be set once a more concrete pre-draft schedule was announced by the NCAA.
The early entry withdrawal deadline was not the only date pushed back as the draft lottery, scheduled for May 19th and the scouting combine, scheduled to be held May 21st-24th were also moved further back.
The only date that has remained untouched is the draft itself, which is still scheduled for June 25th, but likely to change. But one thing is for sure, and that is that time is winding down
There is definitely an unknown or mystery element to this year’s draft process, players who may normally opt to stay in the draft due to certain unforeseen
ESPN-Updated Friday 5/29/2020
NBADraft.net-Updated Tuesday 6/2/2020
CBS Sports-Published 5/12/2020
The Athletic-Published on 5/5/2020 *Subscription is needed to view The Athletic’s content
Sports Illustrated Top 80 Rankings-Published on 5/6/2020
The Ringer’s 2020 NBA Draft Guide-Updated May 19th, 2020
Guys who could return next season
Derrick Alston Jr. |Junior Guard | Boise State
Projection: Late second round to undrafted
CBS Sports: 65th
ESPN: 95th
NBA Draft.net: 57th (big board)/58th Mock draft
The Athletic: 57th
Sports Illustrated: not ranked
The Ringer: not ranked
Alston Jr. is a legacy draft prospect, as his father was drafted in the second round and 33rd overall in the 1994 draft out of Duquesne. His father’s NBA career was short lived (a little over two seasons), but played almost two decades overseas and has since made a career in couching in the NBA and NBA G-League as the current head coach of the Westchester Knicks.
Alston Jr. is an intriguing prospect as a 6-9 guard who can handle the ball and get his teammates involved when he drives the lane.
Matt Mitchell |Junior Forward | San Diego State
Projection: Undrafted
CBS Sports: not ranked
ESPN: not ranked
NBA Draft.net: not ranked
The Athletic: 82nd
Sports Illustrated: not ranked
The Ringer: not ranked
Mitchell was a terrific player on what may have been one of the best Aztec teams in school history. He began the season coming off of the bench for the Aztec’s first 13 games before reentering the starting lineup and never leaving. His development over the course of the season elevated Mitchell to a spot on the conference’s first team at the end of the season.
After declaring for the draft in late April, he spoke with Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union-Tribune revealing anything but eagerness to jump to the NBA.
“I was definitely going back and forth on the decision to put my name in,” Mitchell said. “But at the end of the day, I felt it was the best thing to do for myself and help myself in the future. All I’m looking to get out of this is to get feedback about what I need to get better at, what they’re looking for me to do better next season.
“And if they do open for workouts, under God’s graces, I would take workouts if asked. That’s all I’m looking to get out of it. I don’t think I’m looking to leave this year.”
Mitchell is extremely self-reflective and understands the current situation globally and how it limits exposure and potential in-person contact with NBA teams. He also understands
Decided to stay in the draft
Malachi Flynn | Junior Guard | San Diego State
Projection: Early first round to mid-second round
CBS Sports: 45th
ESPN: 38th
NBA Draft.net: 39th (Big Board)/41st (Mock Draft)
The Athletic: 37th
Sports Illustrated: 29th
The Ringer: 36th
Flynn had
Jalen Harris | Redshirt Junior Guard | Nevada
Projection: Late second round to undrafted
CBS Sports: 70th
ESPN: 86th
NBA Draft.net: not ranked
The Athletic: 80th
Sports Illustrated: 60th
The Ringer: not ranked
The Seniors
Sam Merrill | Senior Guard | Utah State
Projection: Undrafted
CBS Sports: 98th
ESPN: 67th
NBA Draft.net: not ranked
The Athletic: 71st
Sports Illustrated: 57th
The Ringer: not ranked
Justinian Jessup | Senior Guard | Boise State
Projection: Undrafted
CBS Sports: not ranked
ESPN: 92nd
NBA Draft.net: not ranked
The Athletic: not ranked
Sports Illustrated: not ranked
The Ringer: not ranked
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]
[protected-iframe id=”09e6ca4e11e5838c3834d87c7b471ffb-137729785-123448869″ info=”https://anchor.fm/mwwire/embed” width=”400px” height=”102px” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”]