The Gators are losing a number of players after a difficult season, headlined by Tre Mann and including four who filed to transfer.
In light of all they had to face in the 2020-21 season, it’s tough not to think of the Gators as a success after managing a not-too-shabby 15-10 record and getting to the second round of both the SEC and NCAA tournaments. However, despite their accomplishments, the program is witnessing something of a mass exodus of talent, extending to both the players and the coaching staff.
Because of the unusually large number of players departing for other teams, let’s take a look at each. Of course, there could be more bad news for the team coming down the pipe, but so far only these players have declared their intent to find new homes. Additionally, those who have entered the transfer portal could remove their names from the market and return to Gainesville if they have a change of heart.
Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell will enter the 2021 NBA draft but retain college eligibility, leaving the door open to returning to OSU.
Ohio State basketball forward E.J. Liddell has decided to enter his name into the NBA draft. However, one of the nice things about the process is that Liddell can go through all the paces, receive important feedback from decision-makers, yet still decide to remain with the Buckeyes next year.
It’s the same path that former OSU big man Kaleb Wesson took after his sophomore season before deciding to return and work on key elements of his game. He then went on to try to enter the NBA after his junior season. It was possible because of a very welcome rule change that came in 2016, and it really makes no sense not to take advantage of the benefits of valuable feedback that a player on the fence can get.
Liddell was asked about his desire to enter the NBA draft shortly after Ohio State got eliminated from the NCAA Tournament and said that he had not made up his mind at that point, but it felt like a foregone conclusion.
Now, that looks to have come to fruition.
“After spending time consulting with my family and coaches, I have decided I will be entering my name into the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining my college eligibility,” wrote Liddell. “Reaching the NBA has always been a dream of mine ever since I started playing basketball with my first YMCA team. Timing is everything, trust I won’t rush.”
We wish Liddell well in the process, and whatever decision he ultimately makes, but I feel good about him coming back next season. If he does, he’ll be on the shortlist for conference player of the year in the Big Ten, would likely garner All-American consideration again, and would make Ohio State a very dangerous team.
We’ll obviously keep an eye on this as news progresses.
In this episode of the Lab, we dive into all things 2021 NBA draft for Boston.
While there’s been plenty of good and bad things alike to point to since the 2021 NBA trade deadline for the Boston Celtics, the other big event in the basketball universe that is happening this month — the NCAA tournament — is getting close to its finale, and with that attention tends to turn to the Celtics’ potential targets in the 2021 NBA draft.
To that end, we brought on friend of the pod and NCAA basketball expert Ben Kaloupek to dive into all of the players Boston might be keeping tabs on in the range it will likely draft this coming offseason.
From floor generals to scoring wings to defensive-minded big men, we cover the gamut of players the Celtics ought to be studying up on as we begin to get our bearings on this cohort of NBA prospects.
Hosts Justin Quinn, Cam Tabatabaie and Alex Goldberg also talk expectations for the remainder of the season and the results of recent games, so press play and get up to speed on all the above in this latest episode of Celtics Lab
With the NCAA season winding down, the NBA on Monday announced the key dates for several draft events.
With the NCAA season winding down, the NBA on Monday announced the 2021 NBA draft will take place July 29 beginning at 8 p.m. EST on ABC and ESPN.
In addition to the draft, the NBA announced the combine will run June 21-27. The combine, which will feature 5-on-5 games and strength and agility testing, will be televised across the ESPN family of networks throughout the week.
Just after the combine begins, the draft lottery will take place on June 22 at 8:30 p.m. EST on ESPN. The location for each event will be announced as details are finalized by the league.
The NBA announced today that NBA Draft 2021 will take place on Thursday, July 29, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
The first round will be televised by ESPN and ABC, and the second round will air on ESPN.
The dates for the draft-related events fall more in the typical window for each as the league trends toward returning to a normal yearly schedule. The hope is the season schedule can return to its pre-pandemic days.
Mike White and his Florida Gators basketball program are in danger of losing another key piece of their rotation from a year ago.
Just days after three players announced they were transferring and talented sophomore Tre Mann declared for the NBA draft, a forward is set to also test the waters. Forward Colin Castleton announced on Sunday that he will test the NBA draft waters this year, declaring for it but not hiring an agent.
The key words in Castleton’s message below are that he’s not hiring an agent which allows him to retain his eligibility. That means he can test the waters by talking to scouts to get a feel for where his draft stock is and return to Florida.
The former Michigan commit transferred to Florida after two years with the Wolverines after finding himself buried on their depth chart. In his lone season so far with Florida, Castelton averaged 12.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
In the NCAA Tournament, Castleton recorded double-doubles in the Gators’ two games including scoring 19 points and grabbing 14 rebounds against Virginia tech.
It would be a little shocking to see him stay in the draft at this point as getting feedback will be key for him. He could take that feedback he learns from teams and try to improve in his senior season in Gainesville.
One of the most talented guards in this draft class is declaring for the NBA Draft and hiring an agent effectively ending his college career
In a move that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, star Gators point guard Tre Mann announced on Wednesday morning that he will be entering the 2021 NBA draft. In an accompanying statement sent to ESPN, Mann said he intends to hire an agent, which would mean he’s forfeiting his remaining college eligibility.
“After much consideration, I have decided to take the next step in my basketball career and will declare for the 2021 NBA draft,” Mann told ESPN. “To Gator nation, your love and support will always hold a special place in my heart. I will be hiring an agent to help guide me through this process.”
Mann averaged 16 points in 2020-21, but over the SEC and NCAA Tournaments, his production skyrocketed with him averaging 21 points. He’s seen his NBA stock rise considerably in recent weeks, and it appears Mann feels ready to try his hand at the professional ranks.
“My season at Florida was filled with a lot of individual growth with the significant increase of playing time and emphasis on fulfilling my role,” Mann said. “However, this year was filled with adversity in [the form of] COVID and the loss of Keyontae [Johnson]. While we didn’t reach our goal as a team in the NCAA tournament, it was a great experience nonetheless.”
He’s one of the most talented guards in this draft class, and he should be a first-round pick. Florida hasn’t had a player selected in the NBA Draft since Erik Murphy in 2013.
It’s unclear how the format of the draft will work this season, as no dates have been announced for the event (or for deadlines for players to withdraw). But Mann has some experience with the process as he tested the waters last offseason. Now, after his sophomore season, it appears he’s gone for good.
“I would like to thank Coach White and his staff at the University of Florida for believing in me and helping to shape me into the man and player I am today,” he said. “Thank you to all my teammates who shared the Gator uniform with me for the last two seasons. Thank you to my family for always providing me with love and support. No words can ever describe how grateful I am to you.”
Experts are starting to hone in on potential 2021 NBA draft projections.
With the 2021 NBA All-Star Game firmly in the rear-view window, the end of the current season and where teams will likely find themselves in the standings starts to come into focus. And with it, we can begin to get an idea of where those teams will make their selections in the 2021 NBA draft.
At the same time, with NCAA conference tournaments underway and the Big Dance not far behind, a rough order of who might be taken where is also starting to come together. And while the consensus is still lacking and the order fluid, a number of potential prospects for the Boston Celtics are being mocked to the team in the first round’s late teens to early twenties.
Will all this, let’s take a look at what some of the early mock drafts think the Celtics might be up for when the big day arrives in late July.
Silver expressed a desire to return to more of a normal offseason period to make for a smooth transition for the next rookie class.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Saturday expressed a desire to return to more of a normal offseason period this year in order to make for a smooth transition for the upcoming rookie class.
Of course, the coronavirus pandemic drastically changed the schedule last year with the NBA draft getting pushed back until November. The current class of rookie players did not have the luxury of a Summer League and time to acclimate to their new teams and the league is looking to change that this year.
With the 2020-21 regular season set to run through the middle of May, the league would return to more of a normal scheduling period. While a date for the 2021 NBA draft has not yet been set, the expectation is it will take place early enough to give players the chance to have a smooth transition over the summer.
Adam Silver says NBA is looking for ways, between an abbreviated summer league and mini-camps, to get back toward a more normal off-season for the upcoming rookie class.
Of course, the NBA would like to eventually cycle back to its normal calendar schedule. The league is taking steps to get everything back on track, including the start of next season, to ensure future events can return to return to normalcy.
Uconn Huskies sophomore James Bouknight returned from injury on Feb. 16 and he made it clear that he hadn’t lost a step during his absence.
UConn Huskies sophomore James Bouknight returned from injury tonight and made it clear that he hadn’t lost a step during his absence.
Bouknight, a 6-foot-5 guard who had scored 40 points against Creighton on Dec. 20, is an explosive scorer who has shown insane vertical pop during his collegiate career thus far. We projected him as the No. 15 overall pick in our most recent 2021 NBA Mock Draft.
While he had missed more than a month of action due to injury he showed everyone Tuesday night against Providence that there was very little to be concerned about in his recovery.
Early in the first half senior forward Tyler Polley attempted a three-pointer that missed off the iron. The shot missed but then Bouknight did this:
Bouknight, who was aligned near the left wing on the perimeter, was able to quickly notice that the shot was not going to land. So he sprinted to the rack, beating Providence wing A.J. Reeves by foot, and then he took flight.
He displayed comical athleticism, soaring from the restricted area to then throw down an absurdly satisfying putback slam. He didn’t seem anywhere near striking distance to complete this sequence, but Bouknight just showed defenders that they have to box him out as far back as the 3-point line if they want to stop him.
The 20-year-old, who was suffering from bone spurs, underwent surgery on his left elbow on Jan. 12. He was averaging 20.3 points per game before he was sidelined.
If he keeps completing highlights like these, Bouknight could very well become a first-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. But until then, however, college basketball fans have a few more dunks to look forward to from the UConn star.
“He’s still scratching the surface and discovering what his superpowers are and learning how to control them.”
Bennedict Mathurin had dreamed of this moment since his days of playing pickup basketball against his older siblings growing up in Montreal.
His first chance to be a starter on a college basketball team finally came in mid-January.
The Arizona-Oregon State game was still scoreless after two minutes when Mathurin, who had previously been a spark-plug scorer off the bench for the Wildcats, pulled down a rebound and took the ball up the floor himself. Once in a set offense, he operated quickly, running a high pick-and-roll from the right slot and then perfectly reading the defense, dribbling off the pick and attacking the basket. He found space in the lane and converted on a contested layup at the rim.
The next possession, he spotted up on the left corner to swish a wide-open 3-pointer. Moments later Mathurin, 18, picked up the loose ball and raced toward the basket. He gathered for a leap from near the free-throw line, took off and dunked. Just like that Mathurin was on a personal 7-0 run against Oregon State.
The reality didn’t match the dream; the pandemic meant these plays happened without the buzz of any crowd. That dunk didn’t bring entire sections of people out of their seats, just a few teammates. For a player who’d traveled a winding path — and whose quest to reach this point was inspired by an older brother who never made it this far — that hardly mattered, though.
By the second half, Mathurin looked even more confident and found the full force of his game, showing the world why he has a good chance to be the first player ever drafted after working through the NBA Academy system.
He dazzled on an absurd sequence that should excite any basketball fan: First he roared back to make a chase-down block then sprinted back on offense and, with a hand in his face, nailed another 3-pointer. All the while, he made it look easy.
Still not over this BLOCK ➡️ BUCKET sequence by Bennedict Mathurin
Mathurin ended the game with 31 points while shooting 6-for-7 from beyond the arc. Arizona coach Sean Miller said that Mathurin went from an “unmarked freshman” on scouting reports to one of the “key players” for the Wildcats.
He has started six of eight games since his breakout, and is averaging 11.6 points per game as Arizona (14-7, 8-7 Pac 12) pushes through a regular season that can’t end in the NCAA Tournament (the school self-imposed a postseason ban over recruiting violations discovered, in part, in the federal probe into college basketball.)
Whether Mathurin will return for a second season is unclear; he demurred from answering that question recently. While some scouts believe he’ll need another year to develop, we’ve included him on our latest 2021 NBA Mock Draft and ESPN featured him on their Top-100 Big Board.
Mathurin acknowledged that this season has been difficult for many players in college basketball, as they struggle to find a rhythm in a season unlike any other.
He’s adjusted, he said, because the odyssey that brought him here taught him to adapt quickly — and because he’s realized, while standing in those eerily quiet gyms, that his passion for the game is enough to drive him.
“Even if there are no fans, I’m able to stay focused and play the game that I love,” Mathurin recently told For The Win via Zoom.
***
The big outing against Oregon State was just one stop on a long journey for Mathurin, who hopes to be the next player from Montreal to make it to the NBA.
Growing up in Canada, Mathurin played the power forward position and was a fairly successful player on the youth circuit.
When he caught up with For The Win, he said his biggest basketball influence of all-time is Michael Jordan and that his favorite active player is Bradley Beal. It was no surprise that in 2018, he would switch to play on the wing.
That wasn’t the only change for Mathurin, who left home at 16 years old to more seriously pursue his basketball future. Mathurin is multilingual and speaks French, English and Haitian Creole. When he arrived in Mexico City as part of his journey to the NBA, however, he didn’t yet speak any Spanish.
“The first few months were really tough,” said Mathurin. “But by my second year, I was really able to communicate with my teammates.”
Mathurin took a risk and bet on himself by leaving Canada and it wasn’t long until it started to pay off. He was a standout prospect while participating in events like the NCAA Next Generation Showcase and Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in Chicago, where he was named an All-Star.
(Credit: NBA Academies)
Playing for Team Quebec, Mathurin took home most valuable player honors at the U17 Canadian National Basketball Championships in 2019.
Another highlight performance came when he competed in the Torneo Junior Ciutat de L’Hospitalet held in Barcelona, Spain last January. He averaged 13.2 ppg, which was the second-most on his team.
That was highlighted by a 30-point game in the tournament semifinals against Baskonia.
Over the course of those five games, he was effective when running the pick-and-roll and he was very productive on his floaters. While his jump shot wasn’t falling, his willingness to create his own shot off the bounce was encouraging. That helped him eventually get recruited and offered by major collegiate programs Arizona, Washington State and Baylor.
Mathurin insists that none of what he is doing today would be possible without the guiding force of his elder siblings. His sister, Jennifer Mathurin, played college basketball for North Carolina State from 2013 until 2017. She was an ACC All-Academic recipient.
“She made me want to keep going and keep playing basketball,” said Mathurin. “She taught me how important it is to go to school and helped me realize that if there is no school, there is no basketball.”
Especially considering how long he has been away from home, these days, some of his most cherished memories are playing basketball against his brother — even if it didn’t go in his favor.
“He was the first player to ever cross me over so bad that I fell on the floor,” Mathurin joked. “I used to hate him for that!”
Mathurin unexpectedly and tragically lost his brother, Dominique, who died after a bicycle accident in 2012.
“He said that playing college basketball was his dream,” said Mathurin. “I made the dream come true.”
***
(Credit: NBA Academies)
Already, the path that Mathurin has had to get to college basketball makes him a trailblazer.
He was one of the first players to attend the prestigious NBA Academy’s location in Latin America. The NBA Academy is an all-encompassing boarding school for young athletes and it has locations all over the world, including Australia, China, India, Mexico and Senegal. The program offers a highly-competitive holistic basketball curriculum, including individual and team skill development, psychology and nutrition. These players face off against the top prospects in the world.
Because the NBA Academy only started in 2016, we are seeing its alumni in college basketball for the first time. Some standouts include Mathurin, Efe Abogidi (Washington State), Jonathan Tchatchoua (Baylor), Santiago Vescovi (Tennessee) and Oumar Ballo (Gonzaga) in the college ranks as well as Josh Giddey (Adelaide) and Mojave King (Cairns) in the Australian NBL.
(Credit: NBA Academies)
Chris Ebersole, who oversees elite basketball development for the NBA Academies, told For The Win that Mathurin has also shown an extraordinary willingness to learn the process of what it takes to succeed at the next level.
“That comes from his background. He has had some really tragic moments as a young person, which is really hard to deal with,” said Ebersole. “But the way he has bounced back and the way he has reacted to that is a testament to his character.”
According to Greg Collucci, a former college basketball player and coach at George Washington University who now works for the NBA’s international basketball operations team, Mathurin persevered and grew during their time working together through the NBA Academy.
“He began his time as quiet, reserved and uncertain how to use his voice,” Collucci told For The Win. “But he developed an understanding of how to be a leader and set an example by showing his work ethic on and off the court.”
***
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
These days, Mathurin is using that experience to help play alongside several international prospects playing on the Wildcats. He has teammates from Cameroon, Estonia, France, Lithuania and Turkey.
“Everybody is in the same situation,” said Mathurin, whose teammates Christian Koloko and Daniel Batcho also speak French. “I’m not alone.”
As the season has progressed, Mathurin has become more and more comfortable on the floor as well. The Wildcats have played better when he is on the court, evidenced by the fact that his offensive rating (128.4) ranks second-best among all players in the Pac-12 so far this season.
“I’m pretty aggressive. I’m doing everything for my team to win. I shoot the ball. I play defense,” said Mathurin. “I can jump high, too.”
Mathurin, who is averaging 11.6 points per game while shooting 42.7% from 3-point range, has made the most of the opportunities that he has been given.
Overall, he is averaging 1.16 points per possession, per Synergy, which ranks in the 96th percentile among all players in D-I college basketball. He also currently ranks as the most efficient high-volume player (minimum: 120 possessions) in the uber-competitive Pac-12 conference.
Ben Mathurin movement shooting — little leg split here, but beautiful job squaring his feet to the hoop of the screen from Tubelis. Really interesting shot-maker with size: 46 3P%, 57 2P%, 74 eFG% off the catch, 69 FG% rim in the half court | Arizona Buckeye Throwback ATO pic.twitter.com/xYUBAHOvOM
His recent performance against Colorado, in which he scored 22 points on just nine attempts from the field, is another great example of what he is able to accomplish on the court. He connected on all four of his jumpers off the catch, where he shows off an incredibly quick release.
Mathurin has long been appreciated as someone who can score the basketball, especially when either dribbling off the screen in pick-and-roll sets or while pushing the break in transition. But he is also learning to play off the ball, too, and has performed well on movement actions, whether spotting up on the corner or cutting to the basket.
In fact, as noted by Brian Schroeder, Mathurin’s blend of scoring near the rim, at the free-throw line and beyond the arc have only been accomplished by three other high-major freshmen since 2008. All three (Devin Booker, Allen Crabbe, Ben McLemore) went on to have NBA careers and two (Booker and McLemore) were lottery picks after their one-and-done collegiate campaign.
he's out with an ankle sprain, but right now Ben Mathurin is one of only three major conference Freshmen to shoot 70% at the rim, 40% from three and 80% from the line on 20 or more usage. The other two are Ben McLemore and Devin Booker
— Mr. Lebowski is in seclusion in the West Wing (@Cosmis) January 28, 2021
One NBA executive, who spoke to For The Win on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on behalf of their team, has been pleasantly surprised with what we have seen from Mathurin thus far.
“You see a guy who has good size, good length and I think he is probably going to profile for most teams as a 3-and-D guy. But he is a 3-and-D guy who can handle the ball,” added the executive. “He can attack closeouts, he can take contact and finish at the rim. That’s all pretty intriguing.”
Mathurin, who is widely celebrated for his athleticism and measured at 6-foot-6 with a plus wingspan and an 8-foot-4.5 standing reach back in July 2019, has the right frame to play on the perimeter in the NBA.
“The role has increased, the shot is going in, it looks like there are defensive tools there. If you get a young guy with size who can make his shots, that right there is enough to get you drafted,” said the scout. “I think he has a chance to be a really good defender when you look at his feet, his length, his size and his frame.”
Benn Mathurin helps force a steal, then soars in transition for a slam. He's good. pic.twitter.com/r52N0Y4QSU
This executive, who scouted Mathurin at Basketball Without Borders last year, believes the Arizona product would probably get selected somewhere in the first round or the early second round if he declared for the 2021 NBA draft.
Matt Babcock, an NBA draft analyst for BasketballNews.com, recently scouted Mathurin in person when Arizona faced Colorado. Babcock also came away impressed with Mathurin’s footwork and complimented his defensive hands as well.
“I’d like to see Mathurin return to Arizona for one more year to continue developing,” Babcock told For The Win. “At this rate, I expect him to be a high priority prospect for next season, and a potential first-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.”
Earlier this month, Mathurin was asked if he planned to declare for the pros after this season. He told reporters that he was “more focused on the season and having a good record” than he was on making that decision.
Either way, the future looks bright for Mathurin, who knows that no matter his decision, there is still more work that he needs to do before he is ready to become the franchise player that he has long dreamed of becoming.
But considering that he doesn’t turn 19 years old until June, there is still be plenty of room left for his development.
“I don’t think he’s by any means a finished product on the court,” said Ebersole. “He’s still scratching the surface and discovering what his superpowers are and learning how to control them.”
